Overview:
Heracles followed up their first season back in the Eredivisie with another 14th place finish last year. Bas Sibum has taken over from Erwin van de Looi in the Heracles dugout and will be hoping to avoid a return to the second tier. The side have made some interesting signings, but have also lost a key player in Brian De Keersmaecker. The 25-year-old midfielder will be a huge miss for Heracles this season.
Transfers in:ย Mike te Wierik (FC Emmen), Djevencio van der Kust (Sparta Rotterdam), Jeff Reine Adelaide (Salternitana), Leco Zeevalkink (NEO Borne), Mimeirhel Benita (Feyenoord)
Transfers out:ย Stijn Bultman (De Graafschap), Kelvin Leerdam (free), Brian De Keersmaecker (Oxford United), Justin Hoogma (Willem II)
Key player:ย Luka Kulenovic
Goal scorers are hard to come by at the lower reaches of the Eredivisie, and in Kulenovic Heracles appear to have one. In 27 games the Bosnian forward scored 10 goals. If he can build on that this season, the side can hope for a higher finish than 14th.
Young player to watch:ย Mimeirhel Benita
The 21-year-old right back was ever present for Heracles last season. He was invovled in more defensive actions than 95% of Eredivisie right-backs and won more aerial duels than 78% of his peers. The former Feyenoord defender will hope to push on more this season.
Transfer window needs:
If Reine Adelaide can have an impact, maybe the loss of De Keersmacker will not be as big as feared. However, they are big shoes to fill, and the former Lyon man has not had huge impacts at his previous two clubs in Belgium and Italy.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
