Belgium international Hans Vanaken reveals ‘annoying’ West Ham United transfer interest
Club Brugge midfielder Hans Vanaken has revealed “annoying” and unexpected transfer interest from West Ham last year.
The 30-year-old is approaching 400 appearances for his club, with the midfielder boasting 23 Belgium caps so far.
When asked about a potential foreign transfer in the near future, Vanaken didn’t rule out the possibility, as well as sharing details about the interest from the Hammers.
“That chance may get smaller every year, but I wouldn’t say it’s over yet,” Vanaken told Eleven Sports, as transcribed by Voetbal Primeur. “But I am well aware that that chance gets smaller and more difficult over the years. But again I’m super satisfied here.
“I actually didn’t expect West Ham to come last year either. That was also only somewhere in mid-August. So I hadn’t really bothered with that at all. So those were just two annoying weeks.”
Potential future transfer
A move for the experienced Vanaken obviously didn’t materialise last year, with the Hammers instead bringing in the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Flynn Downes in the midfield area.
But the duo, and indeed the club’s other summer signings, have failed to really have any major impact at the London Stadium, with the Hammers enduring a miserable Premier League campaign.
The exciting summer arrivals were supposed to help David Moyes’s side push on from their fine performances in recent seasons, but it sadly hasn’t been the case, aside from their superb Europa Conference League run.
The Hammers may return for Vanaken this summer, although it remains to be seen what approach the East London outfit will approach in the upcoming transfer window given their recent failings.
The midfielder captained Brugge to a superb Champions League campaign this season and is tied to the club until 2027, so any approach from West Ham does seem unlikely.