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Eduard Sobol to KRC Genk, Jhon Lucumi to Club Brugge, Stefan Mitrovic back to AA Gent: Hardly a day goes by without an old acquaintance appearing in the rumor mill. Which other former trendsetters – or in some cases flops – might be ready to take another chance in the Jupiler Pro League in January?
When looking for reinforcements, our Belgian clubs usually don’t look too far. In addition to some (former) Red Devils, many foreigners will also return to our country at some point. Think of Golden Shoes and top scorers like José Izquierdo, Dieumerci Mbokani and Hamdi Harbaoui, both of whom made their comebacks several times, or more recently Moussa Djenepo and Roman Yaremchuk.
Comeback kids
From other stars like Ronald Vargas and Victor Vazquez to slightly lesser gods like Imoh Ezekiel and Ivan Santini to, say, Eric Matoukou, Lukas Marecek, Kanu and many others: many examples. Their single run in our competition was often more successful than the other, and the status with which they returned was usually different than when they left. Both in the positive and in the negative sense.
Since creativity in the winter mercato is at a relatively low level, partly due to a lack of time, some teams are still planning to fish in the well-known ponds again. Besides Sobol, Mitrovic and Lucumi, who else can they turn to? The following 11 old acquaintances could be tempted into 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 made it to first place at Nottingham Forest. Despite a successful loan move to Luton Town, with which he secured promotion to the Premier League, the American was even demoted to third goalkeeper in the final six months of his contract. A situation that second division Hull City and some candidates from the MLS allegedly want to exploit. All vacancies at our top clubs have already been filled.
RV: Dylan BRONN (28, Salernitana) – MW: 1.5 million euros
Thanks in part to his impressive total of no less than 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 even wore the captain’s armband at times, for Salernitana. However, Bronn has always been on the bench for the Red Lantern in Serie A this season. Things feel even better in the center of defense, where Club Brugge, Anderlecht and the Buffalos can use fresh blood.
CV: Christian LUYINDAMA (30, transfer time) – MW: €200,000
Blauw-Zwart has high goals with Lucumi, but the budget at the KAA Gent Arena and Lotto Park remains much more limited. After his contract with Galatasaray was terminated, Luyindama no longer has to cost anything. His last official game is at the end of 2022, but after his controversial departure from Standard there is no great anticipation for the Congolese in Brussels. Through his brother John Nekadio, who is active in Seraing, Luyindama still has a connection to our country today.
CV: Derick LUCKASSEN (28, Maccabi Tel Aviv) – MW: €1 million
The chance that Jesper Fredberg will be inspired by his predecessors seems even smaller, but there is certainly no lack of choice. One of the many defenders who have played for Anderlecht in recent years is Luckassen, who is currently working in Israel. Although he has recently had a regular place there again, the Dutchman might prefer a place on the bench in safer places. He was working on the final months of his contract, even if that offered little consolation in the case of Filip Helander.
LV: Neto BORGES (27, Clermont) – MW: 3.5 million euros
Genk are close to signing Sobol as a replacement for Gerardo Arteaga, but if that deal falls through, Borges could be a suitable alternative. Back then it was a complete flop at the Cegeka Arena, where the Brazilian was allowed to play for free after just eight appearances. To then immediately find your way at Clermont, which is now fighting against relegation. The same goes for Deiver Machado, who flopped in Ghent 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 the RSCA Futures, AA Gent put a million on the table in 2020 to get Bukari from the AS Trencin talent factory. An investment that later happily tripled with four goals and six assists in 35 games and a mediocre stopover in Nantes. In a year and a half, the 12-time Ghana international, who is currently playing at the Africa Cup of Nations, has already been involved in 41 goals in 66 games in Belgrade. Krasnodar would offer eight or even ten million to lure him to Russia.
CM: Victor WANYAMA (32, Montreal) – MW: 2 million euros
Wanyama was only 17 years old when he came to Beerschot more than 15 years ago. Over three years in ‘t Kiel, the Kenyan laid the foundation for a glorious career that took him to Celtic, Southampton and Tottenham. In the summer of 2019, Club Brugge wanted to pay a record transfer fee for him, only to see Wanyama move to Montreal on a free transfer six months later. The captain not only ended up on the bench, his contract expires in a year. So is it time to come full circle?
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 in Belgium. Then things went better for him after a detour via Fortuna Düsseldorf in Bulgaria. In a slightly more advanced role than we are used to from him, the Ludogorets captain is doing very well this season with 12 goals in 31 games. This recently earned him a first team selection for Poland, where he has already won three international matches.
LM: Frank ACHEAMPONG (30, free transfer) – MW: €1.5 million
A crowd favorite with his eternal smile, but above all a scourge for any defense because of his inimitable acceleration. At least when Acheampong had his day, because at Anderlecht the regularity of his performances sometimes left something to be desired. The 23-time Ghana international traveled to China in 2017 for 3.5 million after 22 goals and 21 assists in 165 games, where he achieved better numbers with 76 decisive actions in 152 games. Transfer-free and therefore free collection.
SP: Didier LAMKEL ZÉ (27, Hatayspor) – MW: €1.1 million
Since making himself impossible in Antwerp and therefore in the whole of Belgium, Lamkel Zé has changed employers more often than the average person. Sometimes the Cameroonian had already gone somewhere before officially signing. Last summer, KV Kortrijk managed to land him permanently in Turkey, but even though the enfant terrible himself had apparently had enough of our country, Lamkel Zé just announced his return. Where exactly that will be is a mystery.
SP: Thomas HENRY (29, Hellas Verona) – MW: €3.5 million
A year ago he was almost in Anderlecht until a torn cruciate ligament put a stop to his plans. After a long rehabilitation, Henry doesn’t seem to have lost his nose for goals, as the Frenchman has already scored three goals in less than 200 minutes. Hein Vanhaezebrouck doesn’t like him, but a goalgetter is useful everywhere. In addition, Henry is still “only” 29. In his home country of Sweden, Isaac Kiese Thelin, two years older than him and ex-Anderlecht, is also causing a stir again these days.
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