It’s an open secret, Charles De Ketelaere is very courted on the transfer market. The Club Brugge striker is having his most successful season with 17 goals and 9 assists in all competitions. Performances which allowed him to logically become the Red Devil with, at the end of the day, his first goal under the national shirt once morest Italy in the League of Nations.
Inevitably, his statistics have not gone under the radar of major foreign clubs. In its edition of the day, the Gazzetta dello Sport claim that the 21-year-old would be one of the priorities for next summer. “Tennis player (failed) and offensive joker: De Ketelaere, the “new De Bruyne” in the sights of Milan”even headlines the famous transalpine newspaper. “We call him the new De Bruyne since he stopped playing tennis”underline our colleagues in a humorous tone. “This year, he has mainly played as a second striker for the Brugge side. He knows how to finish actions and give assists. Above all, he knows how to facilitate the game thanks to his technique and can build the game. His versatility even leads him to move to the sides.”
De Ketelaere being under contract until 2024, the Rossoneri are aware that the battle promises to be bitter for his signature. “Since his exceptional performance once morest PSG, half of Europe is watching him”, says the Gazzetta. Indeed, clubs like Napoli, Lazio, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham are particularly following the young devil. But according to the Leicester Mercury, it is Leicester who would lead the dance in this file. The Foxes would prepare an offer which amounts to 39 million euros!
The Blauw en Zwart can therefore rub their hands. Because the leaders would indeed like to blow up the records of Jérémy Doku (26 million in Rennes) and Jonathan David (32 million in Lille).
A transfer that pushes Saelemaekers out?
The two players do not play at all in the same positions. But Saelemaekers’ position at San Siro is increasingly tricky. Sure enough, the RSCA-trained player lost his battle once morest Junior Messias in recent weeks. Stefano Pioli criticizes him in particular for not being decisive enough in front of goal. In 30 appearances this season in Serie A, the Salamander (his nickname in the Boot) has scored only one goal and made one assist. Far too little in the eyes of his trainer.
In the league, he has not started a meeting since February 5. An eternity. Meanwhile, Messias has taken his place. But he doesn’t score much more than him, with five goals and no assists in 24 appearances.
What drives AC Milan to see if the grass is not greener elsewhere. The Italian leaders have also inquired regarding a certain Noa Lang for next year. One thing is certain, the Milanese will recruit for this position. And that’s not good for Saelemaekers.
Very average once morest Ireland in Dublin, the player also risks missing the train for the World Cup in Qatar. If he has caught up well once morest weak Burkina Faso, he remains behind Timothy Castagne and Thomas Meunier in the hierarchy of the Devils. He will therefore have to make his choice carefully if he wants to shake up the hierarchy for next winter.