West Ham are plotting a move for Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken as David Moyes plans to further strengthen his midfield options this summer.
The Hammers have already signed Flynn Downes from Swansea City but Moyes is keen to add an attack-minded option to his ranks. Vanaken is seen as an ideal player for that role given his experience in the Champions League and it is understood he also wants to make the move to the London Stadium.
Vanaken, who scored nine goals and chipped in with nine assists in the Juliper Pro League last term, is already match fit, having played 90 minutes for Brugge in each of their opening four matches of the season. While Moyes has targeted younger players in the transfer window, Vanaken is turning 30 this month and would add some much-needed experience following the departures of veterans Mark Noble and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Having made over 500 appearances across his professional career, Vanaken will bring extra know-how and quality, while he also scored against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City last term. Given his European experience, he could be crucial as West Ham compete in the Europa Conference League this season. Vanaken is a huge presence at 6'5" and has a similar profile to Tomas Soucek, who can also dart into the box and score goals.
According to Flemmish outlet Nieuwsblad, Hammers tabled an opening bid of £8.4million to sign Brugge's captain, but it was rejected immediately. The offer is viewed as 'completely inadequate' and Brugge consider Vanaken's departure 'out of the question' in this window as the midfielder is vital to the way they play.
It has been a mixed summer transfer window for West Ham. They have secured eye-catching deals for Nayef Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Downes, Maxwell Cornet and Gianluca Scamacca, but the Irons have also missed out on key targets such as Wolves-bound Matheus Nunes and Jesse Lingard, who joined Nottingham Forest.
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West Ham are also closing in on a deal for Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer, with the defender agreeing personal terms on a move to the London Stadium. Meanwhile, Chelsea's Emerson has been lined-up as an option at left-back.
Moyes' side have failed to pick up a point from their opening two Premier League matches this season, falling to defeats against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest. Moyes reflected on his side's performance in their 1-0 loss at the City Ground on Sunday and was particularly frustrated with their start to the game.
He said: "The first 20 minutes, I thought were really poor. I thought we grew into the game. We didn’t deserve the result we got, that is for sure, but we did in the end.
"I thought Notts Forest started well. They were powerful, strong, wanted to pick up the first ball and the second ball and put us under pressure, we didn’t cope particularly well in the opening 20 minutes with that, I thought."
