Winter Mercato is officially open. Clubs can make transfers from January 4 to 31 and some international files (Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Erling Braut Haaland) will also cause controversy. At HLN.be, you are in front line to follow all the moving news from our competitors and from abroad.
Thiago Silva extends stay at Chelsea
Thiago Silva has extended his stay at Chelsea for another year. The 37-year-old Brazilian defender has signed a contract until the summer of 2023. Silva came from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2020. He worked there for eight seasons. Previously, the 93-time international defended for the colors of AC Milan (2009-2012) and for his country the colors of RS (2002-2003), Juventus (2003-2004) and Fluminense (2006-2008).
Guillaume Gillette leaves Sporting Charleroi
Guillaume Gillet is no longer a Charleroi player. The former Red Devil remained on contract until the end of the season, but this was resolved by mutual agreement. The Carolo family announced that today. The 37-year-old right-back and midfielder can now search for a new challenge on a free transfer.
Gillette has been defending the colors of Charleroi since the summer of 2020. Before that he was with his youth club Club Luik (2002-2004), Wezet (2004-2005), Eupen (2005-2006), AA Gent (2006-2008), RSC Anderlecht (2008). -2016), Bastia (2014-2015), Nantes (2016-2017), Olympiacos (2017-2018) and Lens (2018-2020) in action.
Genk wants Kusuno’s successor
Racing Genk is about to complete its first winter transmission. Limburger is planning to take over 20-year-old Ivorian Aziz Ouattara Mohamed from Hammarby, Sweden. Ouattara is a strong defensive midfielder, the profile that was still missing in Genk’s heart. In terms of playing style, he has been compared in Sweden to his Ivorian predecessor in Hammarby, Odilon Kosono. And he replaced Club Brugge last summer for German Bayer Leverkusen, and this amount could rise to 30 million euros. According to Swedish media, Genk will pay nearly 3 million euros for Ouatara. (KDZ)
Batu (KVM) is on its way to the Turkish second division
Barring surprises, KV Mechelen sees Sheldon Pateau (30) leaving for Turkey. The central defender is on the cusp of signing a 2.5-year deal with second-tier club Samsunspor. Pato still had a contract with Malinoa until June, which, however, he did not want to extend. Now that he’s gone, the KV will likely be looking for defensive reinforcements. (ABD)
St Troyden sees Suzuki moving to Kashima Antlers
Talk about a surprise. Yuma leaves Suzuki Sint-Truiden after 2.5 years and returns to Japan at her request. The striker was close to moving to Schalke 04 last summer, and also held talks with Club Brugge and Anderlecht and refused to play for STVV, “because he wanted to go to a major European competition”. The result of his strong season with 17 goals. This season the counter was at just a second, and last year’s Suzuki was missing out. The Japanese had already bid farewell to the group of players after the match against Yubin, and now the transfer is also official. Not a major European competition, but… his former club: Kashima Antlers in Japan. Suzuki struggled with homesickness from the start, especially when he was unable to return to his homeland due to the travel ban. So STVV has lost an important link, possibly opening the market to an alternative. (NCV)
Wesley leaves Club Brugge and moves to Internacional
Wesley Moraes (25)’s second term at Club Brugge was short-lived. After a six-month loan period, Blauw-Zwart will cancel the Brazilian striker’s contract. Wesley, who is still owned by Aston Villa, will move to Internacional, the mid-market player in his homeland, for a year on a lease basis with no surprises. Except for a few dots and breaks, the deal is complete. He previously appeared to be on his way to Palmeiras, but Wesley and the club could not agree on his salary. (TTV)
Is Dante Rigo signed with Berchot?
Birchot is leaving for Orihuela, Spain, this afternoon for winter training. And soon on board will be: midfielder Dante Rigo. The 23-year-old Vlames Brabanter trained at Dutch club Eindhoven, but has never managed to break through to that level. In between, Rigo was loaned to Sparta Rotterdam and Ado Den Haag. This season, Rigo was mainly active in Young PSV, in the Dutch second division. It is not yet clear if Rigo will join Beerschot on an internship as a tester or if the transition has actually taken place.
France’s new coach, Garcia Seraeng
White smoke at the coach level in Metallo: French Jean-Louis Garcia (59) will be Syring’s new coach. Garcia mainly has experience in the second division and was still working with Nancy last season. Garcia will be the successor to Spaniard Jordi Condom, who bid farewell to the club shortly after the defeat to KV Michelin (2-0). He wanted the condom back to his family and also criticized the working conditions in Seraing. Metallo is penultimate, a place that’s guaranteed to play barrage matches to keep him at 1A.
Accountant deal: Morata is on his way to FC Barcelona
Alvaro Morata is close to FC Barcelona. According to Spanish “AS”, the transition is “95 percent complete”. Morata is a security transfer from Barcelona coach Xavi, but the accountability of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is also useful. The Catalan team acquires the lease agreement between Juventus and Atletico with an option to buy for 40 million euros. The same amount that is still open between Atletico and Barcelona for Antoine Griezmann.
Juventus could look for another striker: Argentine Mauro Icardi would be the favourite. A striker who would rather lose Paris Saint-Germain than be rich. According to ‘AS’, Luke de Jong could leave Camp Nou permanently in January with the arrival of Morata. After Bernd Schuster and Mikel Soler, Morata could become the third footballer to play for Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Ferran Torres feet
Ferran Torres (21 years old) was officially presented today at the Nou Camp. It should bring hope again in the days of Catalan anxiety. Torres is perhaps the most expensive transfer this winter: the 55 million euros Barcelona will pay to Manchester City. How can a club technically near bankrupt with that, You can read here.
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