Eduard Sobol at KRC Genk, Jhon Lucumi at Club Brugge, Stefan Mitrovic back at AA Gent: not a day goes by without an old acquaintance popping up in the rumours. What other former trendsetters – or in some cases flops – might be willing to take another chance in the Jupiler Pro League in January?
In the hunt for reinforcements, our Belgian clubs regularly do not look too far. In addition to some (ex)Red Devils, sooner or later many foreigners will also leave for our country again. Think of the Golden Shoes and top scorers such as José Izquierdo, Dieumerci Mbokani and Hamdi Harbaoui, who have celebrated their return several times, or in the more recent past Moussa Djenepo and Roman Yaremchuk.
Back guys
From other stars like Ronald Vargas and Victor Vazquez to somewhat lesser deities like Imoh Ezekiel and Ivan Santini up to, for example, Eric Matoukou, Lukas Marecek, Kanu and many others: the examples are many. Their passage into our competition was often more successful than the other, and the status with which they returned was usually different from that with which they left. Both in a positive and negative sense.
Since creativity in the winter market is sometimes at a relatively low level, partly due to lack of time, some teams are still planning to fish familiar ponds again. Besides Sobol, Mitrovic and Lucumi, who else can they turn to? The following 11 old acquaintances could be tempted by a new adventure in the Jupiler Pro League.
DM: Ethan HORVATH (28, Nottingham Forest) – MW: €1.5 million
After 64 appearances in 4.5 years at Club Brugge, Horvath never reached number one at Nottingham Forest. Despite a successful loan to Luton Town, with whom he secured promotion to the Premier League, the American was even demoted to third goalkeeper in the last six months of his contract. A situation that second division Hull City and some MLS contenders would like to take advantage of. All vacancies in our top clubs are currently already filled.
RV: Dylan BRONN (28, Salernitana) – MW: 1.5 million euros
Partly thanks to his impressive total of ten goals in 77 games, AA Gent won four million for Bronn four years ago. Two and a half years later, the 38-time Tunisian international left FC Metz, where he also wore the captain’s armband for a period, for Salernitana. Bronn, however, has always been on the bench for the Red Lantern this Serie A season. He feels even better in the heart of the rearguard, where Club Brugge, Anderlecht and Buffalos can use fresh blood.
CV: Christian LUYINDAMA (30, vrij transfer) – MW: €200,000
Blauw-Zwart aims high with Lucumi, but in the KAA Gent Arena and Lotto Park the budget remains much more limited. After the termination of his contract with Galatasaray, Luyindama will not have to cost anything. His last official match dates back to the end of 2022, but after his controversial farewell to Standard, the Congolese in Brussels can’t wait. Through him brother John Nekadio, active in Seraing, Luyindama still has a connection with our country today.
CV: Derick LUCKASSEN (28, Maccabi Tel Aviv) – MW: 1 million euros
The possibility that Jesper Fredberg will look to his predecessors for inspiration seems even smaller, but there’s certainly no shortage of choice. One of the many defenders who have appeared at Anderlecht in recent years is Luckassen, who is currently working in Israel. Although he recently regained a permanent starting place there, the Dutchman may prefer a place on the bench in safer places. Working through the final months of his contract, although in Filip Helander’s case this offered little comfort.
BT: Neto BORGES (27, Clermont) – MW: 3.5 million euros
Genk are about to sign Sobol to replace Gerardo Arteaga, but if the deal falls through, Borges could be a viable alternative. At the time it was a complete flop at the Cegeka Arena, where the Brazilian could already play for free after just eight appearances. To then immediately find his place again at Clermont, who are now fighting against relegation. The same goes for Deiver Machado, who failed in Gent but managed to become a Colombian international through Toulouse and Lens.
RM: Osman BUKARI (25, Red Star) – MW: 7.5 million euros
After a short stay at RSCA Futures, AA Gent put a million on the table in 2020 to snatch Bukari from AS Trencin’s talent factory. An investment then happily tripled with four goals and six assists in 35 games, and a mediocre stop at Nantes. In a year and a half, the 12-time Ghana international, currently competing in the Africa Cup of Nations, is already involved in 41 goals in 66 matches in Belgrade. Krasnodar would have offered him eight or even ten million to lure him to Russia.
CM: Victor WANYAMA (32, Montreal) – MW: 2 million euros
Wanyama was only 17 when he arrived in Beerschot more than 15 years ago. For three years at ‘t Kiel, the Kenyan laid the foundations for a glorious career that took him to Celtic, Southampton and Tottenham. In the summer of 2019, Club Brugge wanted to pay a record fee for him, only to see Wanyama move to Montreal for free six months later. The captain not only ended up on the bench there, but his contract expires in a year. So, is it time to close the loop?
CM: Jakub PIOTROWSKI (26, Ludogorets) – MW: €2.5 million
With only around twenty appearances for KRC Genk and a handful of games for SK Beveren, Piotrowski enjoyed an anonymous transition to Belgium. Then things get better for him after a detour through Fortuna Düsseldorf in Bulgaria. In a slightly more advanced role than we are used to, the Ludogorets captain is doing very well this season with 12 goals in 31 games. It recently earned him his first selection for Poland, where he has already collected three caps.
LM: Frank ACHEAMPONG (30, free transfer) – MW: 1.5 million euros
A crowd favorite with his eternal smile, but above all a scourge for every defense due to his inimitable acceleration. At least when Acheampong had his moment, because at Anderlecht the regularity of his performances sometimes left something to be desired. The 23-time Ghana international left for China in 2017 after 22 goals and 21 assists in 165 games for 3.5 million, where he recorded better figures with 76 decisive actions in 152 games. Without transfer and therefore free collection.
SP: Didier LAMKEL ZÉ (27, Hatayspor) – MW: 1.1 million euros
Since this became impossible in Antwerp and, by extension, throughout Belgium, Lamkel Zé has changed employers more often than the average other human being. Sometimes the Cameroonian had already left somewhere before officially signing. Last summer KV Kortrijk managed to finally dump him in Turkey, but even if the terrible enfant seemed to have had enough of our country, Lamkel Zé has just announced his return. Where exactly it will be is a mystery.
SP: Thomas HENRY (29, Hellas Verona) – MW: 3.5 million euros
A year ago he was already almost at Anderlecht, until a cruciate ligament injury put a spoke in his wheels. After a long rehabilitation, Henry appears not to have lost his eye for goal, as the Frenchman has already scored three goals in less than 200 minutes. Hein Vanhaezebrouck doesn’t like him, but a goalkeeper comes in handy everywhere. After all, Henry is still ‘only’ 29 years old. In Sweden, his home country, Isaac Kiese Thelin, two years older than him, formerly of Anderlecht, is also making the networks vibrate again these days.
2024-01-22 18:55:00
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