In the wake of West Ham’s safe passage into the European Conference League, manager David Moyes revealed the latest on the club’s pursuits of both Lucas Paqueta and Hans Vanaken.
Gianluca Scamacca, Said Benrahma and Tomas Soucek put Viborg FF to the sword on Thursday night, leading the Hammers to a 3-0 win away from home and sealing a 6-1 aggregate victory.
As a result, Moyes can look forward to another European adventure, the club’s second consecutive continental campaign.
After a difficult start to the Premier League season, the win in Denmark offers a much-needed morale boost.
Moyes has spoken of West Ham’s difficulty in landing transfer targets this summer and faces a race against time to land an attacking midfielder.
A €40million offer for Brazil international Paqueta, as well as a bid worth around £10m for Belgian Vanaken, have both been rejected heading into the final week of the window.
Vanaken is keen on a move to the London Stadium and personal terms are not expected to be an issue but Brugge do not want to sell their captain and feel the Hammers’ bid is some way below their valuation.
The Hammers remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, though at present there is little indication he will leave Stamford Bridge on loan, while continuing their pursuit of Paqueta, whose agents are in London looking to tie up a move ahead of the September 1 deadline, amid reported interest from a number of English clubs.
Speaking after the Viborg win Moyes told football.london: “I’ve not heard any more today about either of them.
“I probably wouldn’t pick anything up until tomorrow morning.”
