‘It’s true’: Reported £14m target says West Ham wanted to sign him

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Hans Vanaken has said he could have left Club Brugge for West Ham United before signing a new contract with the Belgian champions instead, speaking to Sporza.

Having just turned 28, you might have assumed the 6ft 4in attacking midfielder would jump at the chance to join a Premier League club while at the peak of his powers.

But, surprisingly, Vanaken opted to turn down an offer from the London Stadium.

Brugge has been his home for five years and, after helping the Blue Blacks win the Jupiler League title last season, albeit on a points-per-game basis, he has his sights set on further silverware in the Belgian capital.

HLN reports West Ham had a £14 million bid rejected before Vanaken, who was said to have had little interest in joining David Moyes’ side, agreed a new contract instead.

“It is true that Club Brugge declined a bid – that has always been correctly communicated,” the former Lokeren ace said when asked about West Ham’s interest.

“In the end, (the club) made an effort towards me. If I really wanted to go, I might have played it dirtier but that’s not how I am. It also shows the respect there is between me and the club.”

Try as they might, West Ham failed to make a single deadline-day signing with the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jonathan Tah slipping through their fingers.

Premier League clubs can still sign players from the Championship until 16 October, however, and there’s still time to tie up deals for Craig Dawson, Said Benrahma and others.