West Ham United are reportedly interested in one highly-rated youngster and have already made their move…

What’s the word?

According to Football Transfers, the Hammers have already had one bid rejected by Club Brugge for their 18-year-old midfielder Arne Engels.

The teenager has just one year left on his contract, and the Belgian outfit could be receptive to allowing him to leave. However, they will have to mark an increase from their opening bid.

The scouting team at the London Stadium reportedly had their interest piqued through his performances in the UEFA Youth League, where his mature performances have drawn huge interest.

David Moyes will be looking to exorcise the demons of missing out on another Belgian midfielder when Amadou Onana chose to join their Premier League rivals Everton, despite substantial Irons interest.

He can be Moyes’ Onana

Standing at an impressive 6 foot 1, Engels certainly boasts a physical presence despite his youth. It would appear that Moyes was seeking this attribute when striving to complete a move for Onana, who himself stands at 6 foot 5.

The youngster has been plying his trade for Club NXT recently, the youth team of Club Brugge, and last season he scored three goals and set up another two in just seven appearances.

As captain of the team, he draws comparisons to former Lille goliath Onana, skipper of the Belgium under-21s. Both appear to be natural leaders as well as midfield generals.

He is clearly a constant goal threat for his youth side, and perhaps a step up to Premier League 2 could see his growth accelerated.

Having also scored twice for Belgium under-19s over three friendlies, his talents have also been showcased on an international level.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig cites him as part of a “new wave of highly talented Brugge academy players”, and West Ham could benefit by poaching one right from the source.

He is clearly already a fine goalscoring talent, and at youth level he is far outperforming the three goals and one assist that Onana managed last season. Whether he can make the step up to senior football is another thing.

Perhaps in time he could quickly wipe that failed transfer saga from Moyes’ mind, with growing Engels into the player that the Hammers boss first desired.