Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 3, 2021, Club Brugge's Hans Vanaken looks dejected.
West Ham United transfer target Hans Vanaken has publicly stated that he wants to join the Premier League club this summer.
The Lowdown
With the Hammers looking relatively stale in the middle of the park amid some criticism in recent months, the east London club are looking to bring in an extra player in that position to the London Stadium.
According to reports, West Ham have identified Club Brugge star Vanaken as a priority ahead of the transfer window closing in just over a week’s time.
As per The Guardian, David Moyes’ side had an initial £8m bid rejected for the 29-year-old. However, it doesn’t appear that they are giving up the chase any time soon, for they have already upped their bid as they hope to close in on a deal for the Belgian.
The Latest
Amid speculation of a move to the Premier League, Vanaken has made public his intent to join West Ham this summer.
Speaking live to Eleven Football, as shared by Irons-focused Twitter outlet West Ham News & Views, the Belgian claimed: “This may be my last chance, I want to take it. There will be new talks next week…”
The Verdict
When looking at the midfielder’s underlying statistics, it is clear to see that Vanaken has many of the attributes needed to succeed in the Premier League.
As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s major leagues over the past year, the 29-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for aerials won, the 98th percentile for progressive passes and the 94th percentile for non-penalty goals and interceptions.
Hailed as an ‘incredible player’ by Club Brugge coach Carl Hoefkins, it isn’t surprising that Vanaken has caught the eye of West Ham.
However, with the September 1 deadline nearing, the Hammers will need to move quickly to bring him in, so an increased bid from GSB could emerge in the coming days.
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