AA Gent started 2024 with an elimination in the cup by Club Brugge and a painful home defeat against KV Mechelen in the competition. Those results were not completely illogical, because it was quite a challenge for Hein Vanhaezebrouck to find a team.
This month, Ghent saw Watanabe, Nurio Fortuna, Hong and Tissoudali leave for the Asia and Africa Cup, while two goldcrests leave for Olympique Lyon with Malick Fofana and Gift Orban. Their sale yielded Ghent around 29 million euros without bonuses and that means that there is now more room to strengthen the core.
AA Gent sets its sights on Smets
This appears to be essential, especially at the back. With Agbor and Lagae, Vanhaezebrouck had to resort to some youngsters in recent matches and Kandouss also made a mistake against KVM. Vanhaezebrouck had set his return on the return of old acquaintance Stefan Mitrovic, but the experienced Serbian did not want to leave Getafe.
Now, however, the trainer seems to be able to welcome a new defender. Instead of Mitrovic, Ghent would now have its sights set on one of the revelations of the Jupiler Pro League, because according to The newspapaer they are working on the arrival of Matte Smets. The 20-year-old defender made his breakthrough at STVV last year.
STVV is cooperating with the transfer
Smets already secured a starting spot last season and has completely developed into a strong player this season. It briefly earned him a spot in the top 100 of the Golden Boy and in November he was also allowed to join the Young Devils when Jorne Spileers was brought into the A-team.
It seems that Ghent could quickly complete the arrival of Smets, because STVV would already be willing to cooperate in a transfer. They would like to field their strongman on Sunday in the derby against Genk, but after that all lights could quickly turn green.
2024-01-24 11:42:00
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