West Ham sent scouts to a Belgium league game between Gent v Anderlecht which ended in a 2-0 win for the home side this afternoon
The Hammers were not alone as scouts from fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton and Leicester City watched the same game. German clubs Borussia Mönchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Bayer 04 Leverkusen were also present as were Spanish club representatives from Athletico Madrid and Celta de Vigo.
West Ham completed the signing of Senegalese midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate on a four-year deal from Anderlecht back in June 2014 for a fee believed to be £7 million. West Ham also reportedly abandoned plans to sign convicted rapist Ilombe Mboyo from Belgium side Gent in 2013. The striker spent three years in prison for the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl when he was 16, and Hammers fans backlash prompted the club to end their interest in Mboyo.
The Belgian league is becoming a hotbed for talent spotting with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku marking their mark on the Premier League.
The scouts are thought to be watching players Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet.
I heard they were looking for a couple of pacey defensive midfielders ?who can close down and break up the oppositions attacking threat,
A right back and a reliable centre forward ? How true it is I don’t know ,
Hahaha Johnboy. They wanted pacey defensive midfielders who can also launch quick counter attacks instead of holding play and then passing the ball back to our centre backs when we have opportunity to counter attack. Song was good at it last season.
NOBLE OUT!!!!!
Sounds like someone’s agent did an excellent job inviting everyone to the match. It is too much of a coincidence that everybody and their dog decided to go to the same game.
Actually it was two-nil win for Ghent… But more important, yes, both Thielemans and Praet are being watched by big clubs in Europe, and I already pointed out both of them last year. However, I don’t think Praet could be of any use for us. We have Payet Lanzini and then Samuelson who play similar to Praet. Thielmans, maybe…
However, someone like Depoitre could be of interest. He is the revelation of the season as centre forward and has already said he won’t renew contract for his current team.
watched the Poo Manure game today, apart from a handfull of players both teams were skillfully inept, more like pub teams only fitter, but have a decko at their transfer fees!!!
Belgium is the new gem mine in Europe so lets hope we strike lucky!!!