Standard is considering the arrival of a new goalkeeper to compensate for the departure of Arnaud Bodart. Several avenues are being studied.
We told you about it three days ago, Standard is thinking of Lucas Pirard to support Matthieu Epolo. The departure of Arnaud Bodart to Metz makes the arrival of a goalkeeper with some experience likely.
Currently in Kortrijk, Pirard took advantage of the departure of Tom Vandenberghe to La Gantoise and the injury of Patrik Gunnarsson to play his first match of the season during the trip to Sclessin, but he is preparing to receive competition. The former Standard (he played there from 2009 to 2016) is open to a return home but is not the only profile on the management list.
A decision expected in the coming days
Sacha Tavolieri affirms that the Liégeois are also following the situation of Olivier Vliegen very closely. The 25-year-old Limburger knows how to deal with young goalkeepers: he alternated with Mike Penders in goal for Genk’s U23 team during the first part of the season.
Vliegen also spent part of his training at Standard (from 13 to 15 years old) before heading to Genk. He then finished his schooling until U21 in Anderlecht where he was one of the victims of the arrival of Marc Coucke: “I did not get a contract. I had the right to stay for 90 euros per match won with hopes I couldn’t live with that” he declared in Het Belang van Limburg a few weeks ago.
The native of Bree then made the big jump to the Czech Republic, first to Sparta Prague then to Slovan Liberec. It was only this summer that he returned to his native Limburg. The Standard should make its decision in this matter by the end of the weekend.
