Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has given the lowdown on West Ham United’s move for Hans Vanaken and whether he is the answer for David Moyes.
West Ham boss Moyes has long been an admirer of Belgian midfielder Vanaken.
West Ham are said to have seen a bid of £8.5m rejected by Club Brugge for Vanaken this summer with the Belgian outfit holding out for closer to between £12.5-17m (90 Min).
But a move to the London Stadium seems increasingly inevitable.
First his club manager Carl Hoefkens admitted at the weekend that he could lose Vanaken to West Ham, even though he would love him to stay.
Then the player himself publicly stated yesterday that he wants to join the Hammers as it may be his last chance to play in the Premier League.
That’s because Vanaken turns 30 on Wednesday.
And it is that fact, coupled with doubts over his athleticism and pace which have seen some West Ham fans question whether he is the kind of signing the Hammers should be making and need right now.
The 6ft 5in midfielder is remarkably similar in stature and frame to out-of-sorts Hammer Tomas Soucek, the man he could well replace in the West Ham side.
But while he looks a lot better technically, some supporters are questioning whether Vanaken can adapt to the cut and thrust of English football having spent his entire career in Belgium.
So Hammers News has spoken exclusively to a man who has been covering the potential transfer from the get go.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri gives the lowdown on the West Ham move for Vanaken and whether he is the answer for Moyes.
“He is not a player that can match with a specific profile, he is quite unique,” Tavolieri told Hammers News.
“He started in the second division as a striker and then goes to number 10 and then a number eight. So he has a lot of characteristics (to his game).
“There is nobody you can say he is really similar to that you can compare with.
“But he is a number 10, his profile is a player that is really physical, a player that can play and win a lot of headed duels and this is why I think Moyes loves him, he’s quite unique.
“I don’t know if he is the answer for West Ham but what I can tell you is that he has a lot of experience and that he can help the team as a mature player who can make some difference, this is something really clear.
“For him this is a huge opportunity, maybe the last of his career and he hasn’t left Belgium (before now) because he felt really good in Flanders and is quite a family man who likes the relaxing environment he has had there. This is the main reason why he has not left previously (not because big clubs have never been interested).
“It is difficult to explain to people that a huge and big player of Belgium will now, at 30 years old, be an important player in a Premier League team that could play in Europe and challenge the top six. There are a lot of questions (from England) on his ability and whether he will improve there. But in terms of talent and his way of playing football I am sure he will be fine and he will do fine with the system of Moyes.
“This is something clear because the game really suits the way he plays now so I don’t have a lot of fears about that. But will he be the key player? I’m not so sure.
“He is really good. He is someone who loves stability so he never searched to go out (of Club Brugge) or something like this. He has been two times the best player of the league. People at West Ham don’t have to be worried about his ability and quality but for me he will not be the key player.
“He is really conscious that he has to be in the first XI of West Ham and be a key player to also be in the first XI of the Belgium (national team).
“This is important to know because (Belgium boss Roberto) Martinez won’t give him the place in the (World Cup) 26 squad if he is not able to face a new challenge. So it’s a risk for him but he really wants to do it.”
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