The New York Red Bulls have made a breakthrough in their efforts to make Belgian international Dante Vanzeil their next pick. The 24-year-old forward is scheduled to fly to the United States this week to complete a potentially record-breaking move for the franchise. player fee. This transaction still requires a doctor’s approval.
Vanzeil will be signed by 11-time Belgian champions Union Saint-Giroise for $5.3 million, but achievable bonuses related to playing time, goals and team success will be tied to the Red Bulls’ Argentinean playmaker in 2018. , the fee could exceed the $6.25 million paid to Huracán for Kaku Gamarra. .
union is One of the most compelling stories in European football Over the past few seasons, Vanzeir has played a key role in their success.
The Brussels club was bought by British businessman Alex Muzio and Tony Bloom in 2018. The new owners quickly changed the fortunes of the once-famous team, causing it to decline in the lower divisions. For 2021, they were promoted to the Belgian top flight, with Vanzeil finishing the season as the top goalscorer in the second tier, but finishing top of the table in the Belgian Pro League in his first season back in the elite to finish the country. It surprised me.
Vanzeil struggled in the championship play-offs, scoring just once in six games, and a critical loss against Club Brugge as Union lost back-to-back to the eventual champions, finishing second and qualifying for the Champions League qualifiers. missed penalty.
The fast-footed 24-year-old has bounced back with 10 goals this season before the Qatar World Cup’s forced suspension. He has added two goals since then, but a hamstring problem made him unfit to play in last weekend’s win over Ruben after the Union rejected a fourth bid from Red Bull for his services. I declared.
During the World Cup break, he met the Red Bulls on a trip to the United States and was offered the opportunity to quadruple his salary to about $1.2 million by moving to Major League Soccer. Not allowed. The Union tried to persuade the player to pursue the title and help him in the Europa League campaign to advance to the round of 16, but increased the chances of Vanzeil gaining international recognition in Belgium. The player was tempted by the transfer opportunity. to the Empire State. The Union are currently the subject of interest from Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga and he retains his Boniface for the $20 million-valued striker, Victor.
Vanzeir has made it clear he wants to leave for new opportunities in America, but Union will remain vacillating until valuations are met for its first $200,000 signing from Genk in 2020. and also emphasized the need to find just an alternative. According to those sources, there is one week left in the European transfer market. Local media caught the Belgian international yelling at Union CEO Philippe Bormans as the club waited for the Red Bulls to respond to their demands. to make the move.
Interestingly, Vanzeir’s international career may now be in the hands of the former Red Bull. Belgium’s former head coach Roberto Martínez has called up the in-form striker for 2022 and handed him his World Cup qualifier debut against Wales, but he missed out on the World Cup squad and again Belgium’s The chances of pulling the jersey could now depend.As for Thierry Henry, predictably he should replace Martinez. The Belgian FA is currently in the hiring process, but former Martinez’s assistant, Henry, is a strong candidate for the role.
The Red Bulls definitely hope Van Zea can fill the 9th spot, a definite weakness since the departure of two-time MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips at the end of the 2019 season. is. His 117 goals for Wright-Phillips are his sixth-most in MLS, and the supporters won his shield three times.Wright-Phillips recently rejoined the Red Bulls as a special assistant to the sporting director.
Brian White led the Red Bulls in 2020 with just five goals. New York has signed Patrik Klimala as Celtic’s designated player, and the Polish striker has led the team with his eight goals for 2021. Winger Lewis Morgan led the Red Bulls with 14 goals last season, while Climara was runner-up with his five.
Van Zea can play deeper or on the outside, but much of his Union career was spent as a front-two right-wing striker. In Union, Deniz, who is now in the Premier League at Brighton, has his Unduff serving as a target for his man, with the speedy Van Zeia covering the vast ground around him, without holding the ball. Pressing and building up contributed to his play.
Many scouts at Europe’s top clubs who came to see the 5-foot-9-inch Vanzier were put off by his slight build, a direction that central defenders usually struggle to deal with.
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