Jesper Fredberg. — © BELGIUM
Anderlecht will start training again in about a week. The supporters crave a first real acquisition, but that takes time. Sports CEO Jesper Fredberg wants the team to make a new start after the disastrous eleventh place. That is why he wants to get six or seven reinforcements, while a number of basic players will leave.
Jurgen Geril
It will soon be a vital new season for Anderlecht. Chairman Wouter Vandenhaute already said that the Purple & White wants to finish in the top four again and that a budget will be made available for reinforcements. The margin of error is almost nil. Another failed season, RSCA really cannot afford.
That is why CEO Sports Jesper Fredberg and his chief scout Dries Belaen are busy developing the core. Since Anderlecht does not play European football and cannot do too crazy things financially, that is not an easy task. Still, it may be a coming and going of players at Neerpede. The agents who already came to visit, all heard the same thing: Anderlecht is looking for six to seven new players who can become titulars immediately. The goal is clear: completely renew the team to get freshness in the team.
Base players gone
This implies that certain basic players will/may leave. Some – such as Amuzu, Murillo or Van Crombrugge – are in need of a new challenge, others – such as Raman and Diawara – do not yield enough value for money, while three are coveted by clubs in top competitions. Think of Zeno Debast and Majeed Ashimeru. Add to that the fact that Refaelov and Trebel are at the end of their contract and it can be lined up towards the exit at Anderlecht.
Certainly also because Islam Slimani has yet to make the decision about his future. RSCA does intend to keep the almost 35-year-old goal getter, but in the meantime he has received lucrative proposals from the Middle East and what if he has to compete with a younger target striker? Let’s see what Slimani chooses.
Slimani. — © BELGIUM
Keep Verbruggen, Debast away?
The Purple & White do claim that no outgoing transfers are necessary before newcomers can be roped in, but it would be useful. The idea is to at least play goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen – despite enormous interest -, Jan Vertonghen and Anders Dreyer as fixed values and then add reinforcements. A left and a right back, a central midfielder, a target striker and two flank attackers. A right-footed central defender is also welcome, especially if Debast leaves.
The latter cannot be ruled out. The Red Devil is ambitious and charms many top clubs. His market value is already estimated at more than ten million euros. Loaned players such as Kristoffer Olssen (Midtjylland) can also fill the piggy bank, but others such as Mustapha Bundu will return. Well.
