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Irons ready to step up pressure for midfielder

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leander-anderlecht-dendoncker_4063345West Ham have tonight denied they are chasing Norwich’s James Maddison but remain keen on Belgian midfielder Leander Dendoncker

The Guardian had claimed the club has made a £12 million bid for the 21 year old Canaries star but a senior source at the London Stadium insisted tonight the club had no idea where the report had come from.

He told CandH:  “It’s not true – there is no bid for Maddision from us. We know absolutely nothing about this.”

Instead David Moyes is concentrating on the arrival of Portugal international Joao Maria who passed through his medical this evening.

And the Hammers may well be stepping up their efforts to bring in Dendonocker during the last days of the window after assistant manager Stuart Pearce watched him in their last game against Genk.

We understand the Hammers have offered a fee of around £17 million and could be ready to go as high as £20 million as  David Moyes bids to land his first permanent signing as manager.

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

11 comments

  • Lazurus. rises like a salmon says:

    Get both ! 😉

  • danielson79 says:

    Would love it if Dendonker came. Hugh I heard a rumour we are seriously thinking about Berardi is there any truth to it? Would love him to come in.

  • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

    The rumours are a lot of clubs have asked about Championship players but as they are going for promotion the bids have all been knocked back, we are also supposedly interested in Fulham captain Tom Cairney but who knows…

  • Willtell says:

    So Stuart Pearce lied about him being poor playing as a defender when he watched him was bull**** then….?
    Nice one Stuart!

    • Roman says:

      A lot of bull**** getting around at the moment Willtell. The bottom line is whether Sullivan will part with the money.His track record in getting players past their use by date and on loan precedes him.

  • Lazurus. rises like a salmon says:

    😂 smoke , mirrors , deceit , but for who’s purpose ? I have my doubts about their true intentions , so only time will tell , we need players ! Will they get them is a different story but super Mario isn’t enough so let’s see what happens , but their cutting it fine and I’ve never seen the benefit of that ? Other clubs have players in and playing ? That’s a worry and has been for as long as I can remember !!!! So once again we hope something happens 🙏

  • Lazurus. rises like a salmon says:

    No conformation on Mario yet , Friday must be better than Thursday even though he passed his medical according to Moyes ?

  • Hammer64 says:

    Not even The Sun is making up rumours about strikers we might be buying. This is a worry. The Dzeko to Chelsea story seems to have stalled. I wondered if they might loan out Batshuyai if they get Dzeko & we were ‘linked’ with him a few times in the past. Must admit he looked ordinary when I have seen him recently but then they are hardly going to lend us Morator I guess…

  • sleepswithdafishes says:

    I think Dendonker will be a great signing, but not sure how quick he will adapt to the pace and the pressure. He could take people by surprise this season ( which would be perfect ) and then have work to do.
    The problem is he has played all season as a CB, so Pearce would not likely be impressed. I saw him in live TV against Gent and Ghenk, and he nothing to do so he didn’t impress. If he didn’t impress then we might not bother ( sadly ).

  • JRS says:

    I’d love Maddison but supposedly Moyes wasn’t impressed by him & that’s another issue w watching just 1 game.
    But compared to Cairney I’d much rather have Maddison much better season & I like Cairney but Maddison is much more talented & is on oar to have better season the Cairney did last season which was his best.
    Mario peob won’t stay not Buyout clause so I’d does good goes elsewhere most likely if bad then I know.
    Cairney & Maddison both AMs not Maddiaon can play CF & great at set pieces free kick specialist great dribble & movement. Not to mention if we lose Lanzini I’m summer I think we should go for Maddison even if not in Jan be working in for summer bc need added creativity & this kid has what it takes to make it in PL & would be a start here.
    And Dendoncker played CB which as played a good bit this season to cover but is best at DM with his passing right at 90% this season good w both feet & physical & break play.
    Having to Versatile players like him & Rice would be great & his value will only rise.

    I just hope Everton don’t buy him & loan him back we missed out on Onyekuru who’s value has already tripled be nice to get Dendockner & anther attacking player

    Mario, Dendoncker, & Smolov, Babacar, or attacking player & Madisson for summer be great.

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