Former Club Brugge coach Henk Houwaart is glad to see Hans Vanaken stay at the Champions League surprise packages and believes the Belgium international ‘could have succeeded’ with West Ham United, speaking to Het Nieuwsblad.
The long-time Hammers target made no secret of his interest in sealing a summer move to the London Stadium.
Vanaken admitted a couple of weeks ago that West Ham made him ‘a concrete offer’. One he was keen to seize; a man who celebrated his 30th birthday in August under no illusions that the chance to make his mark in a major European league may now have passed him by.
Vanaken eventually committed his future to the Belgian champions after West Ham walked away from the table, signing a new, long-term deal. Much to the delight of a man who took Brugge to the UEFA Cup semi-finals all the way back in 1988.
West Ham United failed to sign Club Brugge ace Hans Vanaken
“I think Vanaken is even better than usual,” says 77-year-old Houwaart. “He is the free man, can go wherever he wants (on the pitch) and does everything perfectly. He also benefits from the workhorse that (Brugge team-mate Casper) Nielsen is.
“Hans could have also succeeded at West Ham. But it’s good that he stayed.”
Vanaken will be playing Champions League knockout stage football for the first time in his career after Christmas; a Club Brugge side inspired by the evergreen Simon Mignolet and former Barcelona youngster Ferran Jutgla winning three out of five games in a group also containing Bayer Leverkusen, Porto and a now Europa League-bound Atletico Madrid.
“It was difficult. There was a concrete offer from West Ham,” Vanaken explains, after David Moyes’ side saw two bids fall short of Club Brugge’s valuation.
“(Missing out on a move) is a mixed feeling. It was the third time that West Ham showed interest. It may have felt like a last chance, especially to move to a league like the Premier League. With my new contract, there’s a good chance I’ll never leave.
“Did Moyes call me personally? Yes, I heard him over the phone. He said he saw me as an ideal midfielder. On the other hand, I have always said that I am very happy here.”
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