Voetbalkrant are reporting that Gent have made an offer of €2.5m for Kortrijk’s Japanese defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe. The 26-year-old, who has been capped by the Japanese national side, was key in helping the side avoid relegation this season. Club Brugge are also said to be interested, but it is Gent who have made a move first.
Kortrijk are currently in flux, with no head coach and owner Vincent Tan looking to sell. Perhaps Gent are looking to take advantage of this situation and bring Watanabe in before the dust settles on new ownership and a new head coach. Despite the lack of clear structures at the club, the report suggests that Kortrijk are looking to hold out for around €4m. Gent themselves are looking for new investment, and whether they will be willing to increase their initial bid remains to be seen.
This may change should Gent sell some of their star players such as Gift Orban and Hugo Cuypers. Both are attracting interest, with Orban the one most likely to bring in a substantial fee at this time.
