West Ham have had a deadline day offer for Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker rejected, according to a reliable journalist.
Kristof Terreur, a London-based reporter for Belgian newspaper HLN, reported on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon that the Hammers had submitted an official bid for January target Dendoncker.
Terreur claims that the offer has been rejected by the Belgian First Division side, but also reports that West Ham are mulling over a second bid for the 22-year-old enforcer.
A follow-up tweet further reports that Anderlecht want to keep the Belgium international for the remainder of the campaign, but may be willing to do business at £20million.
Anderlecht want to keep Dendoncker until the end of the season, unless someone is willing to pay around £20m.
— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) January 31, 2018
As previously reported by Terreur, Hammers assistant Stuart Pearce flew out on a personal scouting mission for Dendoncker earlier this month, with the young Belgian being on the club’s radar for most of January.
Good move for West Ham?
Yes, definitely.
Dendoncker is very highly rated in Belgium, and has already appeared four times for a national side which is already brimming with talent.
The young midfielder is massively versatile, and has been filling in at the back for Anderlecht for most of the season, which would be a massive bonus for David Moyes in the upcoming relegation battle.
The Hammers are in need of a dependable defensive midfielder who can get on the ball and run games, and Dendoncker certainly has the talent to do that at the top level.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
It all depends on West Ham now.
Anderlecht’s demands are clear, and have been clear from the beginning of West Ham’s chase.
If they bid £20million, then a deal will be sanctioned, if not, then they will have to look elsewhere.
And, with time running out, that is not much of an option.
This is Futbol rating: 4/10