West Ham United wanted Jason Denayer but the defender has instead chosen a move to Shabab Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates.
It was abundantly clear that David Moyes wanted to revamp his back line at West Ham this summer.
Not only did goalkeeper Alphonse Areola sign permanently but two centre backs then arrived in Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer.
A left back then came in with Emerson Palmieri joining from Chelsea, and West Ham have even considered another centre back.
West Ham United wanted Jason Denayer
Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers both wanted to sign Craig Dawson before the summer deadline but West Ham couldn’t find a replacement.
That meant Dawson stayed put in East London but David Moyes has still thought about adding a free agent.
90Min claim that West Ham were interested in signing Jason Denayer, alongside Leicester City, Bournemouth and Wolves.
However, Denayer has snubbed all that Premier League interest in favour of a move to the United Arab Emirates.
The Belgian defender will be joining Shabab Al Ahli in a surprise move given the interest from elsewhere.
Denayer, 27, is a free agent having left Lyon at the end of last season.
Formerly of Manchester City, Denayer knows the English game and could have been a solid addition to West Ham’s ranks.
David Moyes knows Denayer well too having coached him during the 2016-17 season at Sunderland.
A reunion was seemingly considered by West Ham but Denayer has made his decision and will head to the Middle East instead.
A number of players have made moves to the UAE of late, including former West Ham winger Andriy Yarmolenko with Al-Ain.
Adel Taarabt, Allan, Paco Alcacer, Miralem Pjanic and Konstantinos Manolas have also headed to the UAE, meaning Denayer will join some other big names – and leave West Ham to consider other defensive options for January.
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