No European football this season for Genk is a serious blow. They have brought in a new head coach in Thorsten Fink after he exceeded expectations with their local rivals Sint-Truiden. If he can do the same for Genk, they would be challenging for the title. Without the distractions of Europe, Genk fans will be hopeful that they will not miss out on qualifying for a continental competition this time around.
Last seasons position: 5th
Transfers in: Hyeon-gyu Oh (Celtic), Matte Smets (Sint-Truiden), Adrian Palacios (Deportivo Cali), Jarne Steuckers (Sint-Truiden)
Transfers out: Mike Tresor (Burnley), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig), Nicolas Castro (Elche CF), Anouar Ait El Hadj (Union St Gilloise), Rasmus Carstensen (1.FC Köln), Vic Chambaere (Union St Gilloise)
Overiew:
Fink moved quickly to add two of Sint-Truiden’s top performers last season to the squad. Steuckers could be a great pick-up if Moroccan sensation Bilal El Khannouss moves on, which is expected before the end of the window. It will also be interesting to see if Fink gives playing time to 16-year-old talent Konstantinos Karetsas, who impressed with the second team last season.
In goal, Vandevoordt has finally made his move to Germany and now it will be between the teenager Mike Penders and the experienced Hendrik Van Crombrugge. Pretty much all of the great Belgian goalkeepers in recent years have come from Genk, so don’t presume that Penders may not be the next in a long line of quality shot stoppers.
Fans will be hopeful that Oh can be the replacement for Paul Onuachu, although when fit Tolu Arokodare looked decent last season. The 23-year-old Nigerian will want to prove to Fink that he should be starting over the South Korean forward. Genk fans will also be hoping to see some entertaining football that is similar to what Fink brough to Sint-Truiden last year.
