A leading Belgian journalist has given West Ham hope of landing brilliant young Anderlecht star Mario Stroeykens as a like-for-like replacement for Lucas Paqueta.
- Hammers News exclusive
Lucas Paqueta came on as a second half substitute in West Ham’s final home game of the season.
In reality it was Paqueta’s final game at the London Stadium for West Ham – and possibly his last match ever.
The Brazilian magnifico is now into the final weeks of the spot-fixing trial which will decide his very future in the game he lights up when at his brilliant best.
The FA want a lifetime ban if West Ham’s £51m record signing is found guilty.
Paqueta set for West Ham farewell one way or another
If Paqueta, who has always vehemently denied the charges, is cleared then West Ham will be selling him to raise funds for signings due to PSR.
A return to Brazil looks most likely.
There has been an understandable focus on the impact the case is having on Paqueta’s health after he burst into tears in the game against Spurs.
But for West Ham there is the concerning issue of replacing him.
The Hammers are already sorely lacking creativity and guile – as highlighted by their dismal scoring record under Graham Potter.
So losing Paqueta as well, one way or another, means the club are under pressure to sign an adequate replacement.
Few West Ham fans knew much about Anderlecht talent Mario Stroeykens when he was suddenly linked with a summer move to east London last week.
Belgian publication La Dierne Heure reported that West Ham have enquired about the availability of 20-year-old Anderlecht starlet Stroeykens.
The Belgium Under-21 international is the latest exciting graduate from the famed Anderlecht academy.
He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku, Bilal El Khannouss and Sevilla talisman Dodi Lukebakio.
West Ham given hope of signing like-for-like Paqueta replacement Stroeykens
Stroeykens will be going into the last year of his contract and Anderlecht are facing up to the reality that they must cash in now or risk losing their prized asset for nothing.
Het Belang van Limburg claimed Stroeykens has been offered a new deal but is unlikely to sign it meaning he will be available for around £15-17m this summer.
That kind of figure will be in West Ham’s reach with the club planning to make around £100m with a raft of sales.
Now there is good news for Potter and the Hammers from one of the leading voices on Belgian football.
Because a Belgian journalist has given West Ham hope of signing like-for-like Paqueta replacement Stroeykens.
Hammers looking like a ‘good club’ for super Mario Stroeykens
Sacha Tavolieri is one of the most prominent football journalists in Belgium, regularly used as a correspondent by the likes of Sky Sports in the UK.
Anything Tavolieri doesn’t know about Belgian football probably isn’t worth knowing.
So his verdict when asked about West Ham’s interest in Stroeykens is very exciting indeed.
Although competition will be fierce as the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille have been linked of late too, Tavolieri reveals he would be even cheaper than previously reported elsewhere.
“West Ham are being heavily linked with Stroeykens and yes, let me tell you, he’s good player to follow,” Tavolieri told Hammers News.
“Yes it will be difficult to join as there are many clubs interested.
“I believe Anderlecht would want around £10m, because of his contract situation.
“West Ham would be a good club for Stroeykens to take the next step. Interestingly he is a bit like a Lucas Paqueta style of player.”
Potter and West Ham’s head of recruitment cannot delay on this one.
The duo are planning to drastically reduce the age of West Ham’s squad and want to rebuild the side around young, dynamic players.
Stroeykens ticks that box according to Marc Wilmots, the man who led Belgium into the 2014 World Cup.
Wilmots has stated Stroeykens is hands down the ‘best player’ in Anderlecht’s midfield.
And without him, he says, RSCA simply lack the ‘spark’ and the dynamism to drive up the field – which will sound a very familiar problem to West Ham fans.
“I am a very big fan”, Anderlecht fan and pundit Sam Kerkhofs told Extra Time.
“He has a lot of vision and an enormously wide range of qualities. Stroeykens is also strong and you can’t get him off the ball.”
