With a new head coach and some new faces, Club Brugge are looking to bounce back from an under par 2022/2023 campaign. They finished fourth, so miss out on Champions League football. However, with their squad strength, a good run at the Europa Conference League could see them be quite competitive in the competition. Ronny Deila moved over from Standard Liege and expectations are high for the black and blue half of Brugge.
Head coach: Ronny Deila (Standard Liege)
Players in: Igor Thiago (Ludogorets), Hugo Vetlesen (Bodo/Glimt), Michal Skoras (Lech Poznan), VÃctor Barberá (Barcelona)
Players out: Noa Lang (PSV), Youssouph Badji (Charleroi), Clinton Mata (Lyon), Abakar Sylla (Strasbourg), Cyle Larin (Real Valladolid), Ruud Vormer (Zulte Waregem), Senne Lammens (Antwerp)
Player to watch: Maxim De Cuyper
De Cuyper was Westerlo’s best player last season, and his return to Club Brugge suggests that he should be getting some game time under Deila. All eyes will be on whether he can show the same form for Club that he did on loan last season. If he does, expect to see his name linked with plenty of sides in the summer of 2024.
Transfer Needs:
Club could certainly do with another central defender after the departure of Sylla. With Mata gone as well, their central defensive options are limited, especially if Deila wants to play a back three. Jack Hendry is rumoured to be wanting to leave as well, meaning that at the moment it is just Brandon Mechele, Dedryk Boyata and Jorne Spileers. They do have Joel Ordóñez, who joined last summer, but even then they need one more perhaps.
Prediction:
On paper, Club Brugge look like a side that should be able to challenge for the title. While Lang and Mata are certainly big losses, they have brought in players that could replace them. If Thiago and Vetlesen come off, expect to see an exciting attacking side. Another defender the balance the squad and they should be right up there come the end of the season.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
