Club Brugge star Hans Vanaken has admitted that he would consider an offer from Newcastle United when asked about a potential switch to the Premier League outfit, while speaking to Het Laaste Nieuws Sportcast.
Reports linking the Belgium international with a move to English football are nothing new.
Vanaken turned down a move to West Ham United during the summer of 2020 – when the prospect of European football and a top-four challenge was little more than a fanciful fever dream at the London Stadium – insisting that he wanted to stay at a Brugge side now playing in the Champions League after tasting domestic success last term.
When quizzed about a potential move to a newly-moneyed Newcastle United side, Vanaken wasted little time in setting out his stall.
Yes, he would ‘think about’ the offer.
But Newcastle, who hired Eddie Howe as their new manager this week, must climb the Premier League table, away from the relegation zone and towards the European places, if they are to lure a player like Vanaken to St James’ Park.
Could Newcastle United make a move for Hans Vanaken?
“If such an offer appeared on the table, I would think about it carefully,” said Vanaken.
“I still have enough challenges here for myself. I am at a club who plays for the prizes and plays in the Champions League. That appeals to me very much.
“I will never just swap this for a team where I may have to fight against relegation.”
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle make a move of their own for Vanaken, a goal-scoring midfielder in the mould of former Magpie Gini Wijnaldum.
Vanaken has scored 17, 17 and 16 goals across the last three seasons, hitting double figures in every single campaign since 2010/11 – a remarkable track record given his position on the pitch.
Speaking last year, after West Ham’s bid was rejected, Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe claimed that a £25 million offer had been turned down from an unnamed club.
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