West Ham United have again been accused of showing a lack of respect for Club Brugge midfielder Hans Vanaken amid their effort to sign him this summer.
The Belgian has long been linked with a move to the London Stadium, having been named as a possible signing for the last few years.
He again emerged as a target this summer for West Ham with David Moyes keen to sign a creative midfielder following Nikola Vlasic’s move to Torino.
He eventually signed Lucas Paqueta in a big money move from Lyon but not before chasing Vanaken, making several bids which Brugge refused to entertain.
The midfielder was thought to be keen on the switch but, when it didn’t happen, instead signed a new deal with the Belgian club to extend his stay there.
That’s seen as a great piece of business for Club Brugge and should help them ward off suitors should West Ham ever come calling again.
“If we may use a cliché: the contract extension of Hans Vanaken until 2027 is perhaps the best transfer that Club has made this summer,” Voetbal 24 report him and Aster Nzeyimana saying for the De Tribune football podcast.
“Even more than the fact that they needed a second striker, they could not do without Vanaken,” added Nzeyimana.
“I do feel sorry for Hans himself, because I think it would have been a fantastic adventure. But who knows, maybe the train will pass by one day.”
“I think that will only happen if Club doesn’t ask for a transfer fee anymore,” responded Vandenbempt.
“West Ham have been courting Vanaken for a few years now, but when it comes to payment, they don’t do it. They don’t want to go any further than 10 to 11 million and that’s a sign of little respect.”
