West Ham United are mulling over a summer bid for Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper report that Hammers assistant boss Stuart Pearce travelled to Belgium to run the rule over the 23-year-old enforcer once again, with the club yet to be convinced he is worth the £18million that would seal the deal.
The Mail claim that David Moyes has put summer plans in motion as he prepares to take over long-term at the London Stadium, with midfield and defence his priorities.
It is said that Pearce also kept an eye on defender Stefano Denswil, who Anderlecht have been pushing on the Hammers recently.
Dendoncker is a full international for Belgium, having earned four caps for the national side so far in his career.
Good move for West Ham?
Absolutely.
Dendoncker has been in the Hammers sights since January, with the versatile youngster remaining with his boyhood club until the summer.
He now looks likely to finally move on, and West Ham would do brilliantly to be his next destination, with Dendoncker destined for big things in the game.
The 23-year-old is nailed-on for a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad, and is very highly-rated in a country which is not exactly lacking for young talent.
Forever West Ham rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
It looks highly likely that Dendoncker will move on this summer, after pushing for an exit from Anderlecht for around a year now.
It had also looked likely that the London Stadium would be his next move, but that looks uncertain after this latest report.
Exactly why the Hammers are unsure of Dendoncker’s worth is unknown, but surely the club realise that £18million is not a high price to pay for a young midfielder in today’s market.
For now, we will have to wait and see, with confirmation of Moyes’ future to come first.
Forever West Ham rating: 3/10
