West Ham boss David Moyes admits he was keen on Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
The young Belgian left Lille last summer for the Toffees, though Moyes says they were also keen.
Moyes said, "We were close to signing Onana.
"It was one of those times in the transfer window where it was very difficult to get a result and we just couldn't finish it.
"We wanted to get him. He is a promising player, and for a long time we thought that we could sign him, but it didn't work out, and he ended up at Everton."