Hans Vanaken made a ‘wise choice’ by rejecting a £14 million move to West Ham United in order to stay at Club Brugge, Jupiler League legend Wilfried Van Moer has told Het Belang Van Limburg.
It is fair to say deadline day was not the roaring success Hammers fans were hoping for.
The optimism that followed those 4-0 and 3-0 thrashings of Wolves and Leicester dissipated somewhat when the clock struck 11:00pm on Monday.
Not only had West Ham failed to sign the new centre-back they have spent all summer chasing, they were also rebuffed in their attempts to bring a Belgium international midfielder to the London Stadium.
According to HLN, David Moyes’ side offered £14 million for Vanaken, the Brugge vice-captain who won his third league title on a points-per-game basis.
But the 6ft 4ins play-maker instead decided to commit his future to the reigning champions, putting pen to paper on a new contract while simultaneously slamming a custard pie directly into West Ham’s face.
“I think Hans will play at Club Brugge until his retirement,” says Van Moer, a three-time Golden Shoe winner.
“I think Vanaken made a wise choice (rejecting the offer). If he were to go to a foreign club, there is a chance that he will end up on the bench. The competition is much greater there, so there is the danger. At Club he is essential.”
Van Moer has a point.
The way Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have performed recently, even Kevin de Bruyne would struggle to get into West Ham’s starting XI.
Ok, that is a bit much but you get the point.
West Ham’s record transfers
- Sebastien Haller
£45 million
- Felipe Anderson
£41.5 million
- Marko Arnautovic
£25 million
- Pablo Fornals
£24 million
- Issa Diop
£22 million
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