And Sean Dyche has pointed to the example of the Belgian when discussing his new addition, claiming that it showed such a signing can work at Turf Moor: "Steven was very interesting, a very bright football man.
"I like him a lot, I think he's quite a travelled player, he was a captain very young, played under a lot of pressure at times, played for the national side - he knew what he wanted, and he said he had a fantastic time here.
"He was quite into the education of the game and found a way of working here, as he described it, to win without the ball, and he never knew that because he was brought up a different way.
"Once he bought into it, he enjoyed that side of the game and how it improved him as a player, so I did share that with him.
"Words are what they are, actions change everything, and it took him a while until he really got hold of it, and once he did...unfortunately a knee injury cost him.
"At that stage he was so hardy to his belief in what we were doing, he was actually playing on with a lump of cartilage floating around his knee, and he hadn't even bothered about it.
"Then his calf, etc etc.
"When I spoke to him, I shared my view of what it was, shared the realities, and it took him a while, but he came and spoke to me about it and said 'I get what you said, everything was right. Originally I didn't get it, but I do.'
"Sometimes it can take time."
We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League speculation below…
1. Cherries snubbed in Greenwood approach
Swansea City and Bournemouth were among those to fall short in their pursuit of Leeds United youngster Sam Greenwood this week. (Football Insider) (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Photo: George Wood
2. Robinson talks up Traore interest
Leeds United were interested in signing Wolves winger Adama Traore in the summer transfer window, according to Paul Robinson. (Football Insider) (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Photo: Michael Regan
3. Rice and Phillips backed for move
Former Premier League star Gabriel Agbonlahor has indicated that Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips will want to move on from West Ham and Leeds United, respectively, at the end of the season. (talkSPORT) (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Photo: Michael Regan
4. Choudhury wanted Toon move
Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury was ‘desperate’ to sign for Newcastle United on transfer deadline day. (Telegraph) (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Photo: Laurence Griffiths