Club Brugge made a mistake not selling Hans Vanaken to West Ham United when a summer switch to the Premier League outfit collapsed in 2022.
If the Belgian giants could turn back the clock, Aad de Mos insists, they would probably do more to retain the services of Charles de Ketelaere while, at the same time, snapping David Moyes’ hand off at the wrist when West Ham came calling for a man who’s form has dipped since turning 30.
Vanaken admits that West Ham made a ‘concrete offer’ for his services a year ago, Moyes informing the Belgian international that he was the ‘ideal midfielder’ for his system.
The Hammers’ £8 million and £11 million bids fell well short of Club Brugge’s asking price. And De Mos, who coached the likes of Ajax, Standard Liege and Sparta Rotterdam during a lengthy managerial career, believes the last season’s struggling Jupiler League champions sold the wrong man in Vanaken’s former team-mate Charles de Ketelaere.
Hans Vanaken could have joined West Ham United
“I had not seen Club Brugge’s nervous breakdown coming at all,” De Mos tells HLN.
“Club Brugge wanted to keep Hans Vanaken from West Ham United at all costs. Club Brugge got rid of the wrong one with Charles De Ketelaere. And they kept the wrong one with Vanaken.”
A two-time Belgian Footballer of the Year and a five-time Jupiler League champion; Vanaken has hit double figures in each of his last 11 seasons from his favoured attacking midfield role. The Club Brugge captain has scored a further nine goals in 2022/23 but his form – like the rest of the team – has dipped rather substantially in recent months.
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And it’s not as if things are going much better for De Ketelaere either in his new AC Milan home. Scorer of 18 goals last season, De Ketelaere has none in 32 games so far this.
Vanaken, meanwhile, was fully aware – when asked last year – that the Premier League ship may now have sailed for him after West Ham’s interest once again came and went.
“It was difficult. There was a concrete offer from West Ham,” Vanaken admits.
“(Missing out on a move) is a mixed feeling. Club Brugge have twice declined bids from West Ham and asked for more. My position has always been that the three parties should find an agreement. That became more difficult by the day. West Ham decided not to continue.
“It was the third time that West Ham showed interest,” Vanaken adds. “It may have felt like a last chance, especially to move to a league like the Premier League. With my new contract, there’s a good chance I’ll never leave.
“On the other hand, I have always said that I am very happy here. I would never leave Club for any team. Did Moyes call me personally? Yes, I heard him over the phone. He said he saw me as an ideal midfielder.”
In other news, Tim Sherwood slams Graham Potter’s treatment of Liverpool transfer target Mason Mount
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