Anderlecht rejected a deadline day bid from Crystal Palace for West Ham target Leander Dendoncker due to their fear of an angry reaction from the fans.
The 22-year-old midfielder wanted to leave Anderlecht during the winter window and was heavily courted by West Ham throughout last month.
The Hammers waited until deadline day to make any concrete offers, but Anderlecht rejected their efforts on Wednesday in order to hold on to Dendoncker.
And according to Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad, the Belgian giants also rejected another offer from a different London club on deadline day as Crystal Palace also made a late move for the midfielder.
Roy Hodgson’s team slapped in a bid worth €15m plus another €5m in bonuses, but it was rejected by Anderlecht, who feared an angry backlash from the fans if they sold the Belgian on deadline day.
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The midfielder and his parents pleaded with the club hierarchy to let him leave, but Anderlecht remained adamant about not allowing him to go late in the winter window.
There are fears in the Dendoncker camp that with a new regime set to take charge of the club next month, the hierarchy might change the goalposts for a transfer in the summer.
Therefore, he was desperate to secure his big move to England last month.
