West Ham United are believed to be pressing on in their bid to land Club Brugge playmaker, Hans Vanaken, with negotiations currently underway regarding the Belgian giant.

What's the word?

According to club insider ExWHUemployee, writing on Twitter, the Hammers are still intent on signing the 29-year-old before the window slams shut, with "talks to resume for Vanaken" in the coming days.

The player himself has already given his backing to the deal, having insisted that he is keen on making the switch to the London Stadium in what could be his "last chance" to seal a move abroad.

The 21-cap dynamo - who has three years remaining on his existing contract with the Pro League side - was reportedly the subject of a €10m (£8.5m) offer from the east London outfit last week, albeit with that bid having been subsequently rebuffed.

Catalyst

The east Londoners appear in desperate need of a positive boost following what's been a dismal start to the new Premier League campaign, having slipped to three straight defeats thus far without scoring a goal.

Vanaken could well be the man to address that slump, however, with the £14.4m-rated ace potentially set to prove the "catalyst" - as he has been described by journalist Josh Bunting - for change for David Moyes' side.

With goals in short supply, the "incredible" talent - as labelled by Brugge boss Carl Hoefkens - is clearly a figure who can both score himself but also play the role of provider, having scored 102 goals and provided 73 assists in 344 games for his current side over the past seven years.

That tally includes a haul of 15 goals and 12 assists from the 2021/22 campaign, with only Jarrod Bowen having registered more goal contributions among the West Ham squad last term, with the Englishman chipping in with 31 goals and assists across all fronts.

A real potent threat in his role as the link between the midfield and attack, the experienced ace could also prove to be something of a "leader" for the Irons this season, as dubbed by Bunting, with such an addition no doubt needed following the retirement of long-serving skipper, Mark Noble.

Equally, the arrival of the 6 foot 5 titan would also provide a much-needed alternative in a physical sense to Moyes' current playmaking options, with the diminutive duo of Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini the two men who typically line up in that role behind the centre-forward.

Adding in a monstrous, physical presence would add another string to the bow for the Hammers, as well as supplying a goal threat that has been sorely lacking so far this season.

It may prove something of a mad scramble to get the deal done as deadline day approaches, although it could well be a signing that kickstarts West Ham's season.