Club Brugge midfielder Hans Vanaken ‘seriously considered’ a move to West Ham when they showed interest in him this summer.
That’s according to Het Nieuwsblad journalist Bart Lagae, who covers the Belgian side for the newspaper.
Vanaken was linked with a move to the London Stadium over the last week, with reports in Belgium claiming that he had become a ‘top priority’ for them before the end of the window.
Those same reports indicated the Hammers were looking to pay €15m for his signature, but a move was quickly crushed when Brugge announced on Friday that both he and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had signed new contracts.
Vanaken signing a new deal would suggest a move was never really on the cards, but Lagae says that wasn’t the case.
“In the meantime, I have understood, also from Vanaken’s entourage, that he has seriously considered the option,” he told De Tribune, relayed by Voetbal Belgie.
“Also because Vanaken thinks London is an attractive city. So the thought was there that if he ever wanted to do it, it might be now or never. Vanaken is not getting any younger.
“But from the moment Club indicated that they wanted to make an effort with a contract extension, he was able to accept it fairly quickly.”
