Football Season Guide

Standard Liege

In


Felipe Avenatti (att), Bologna), Nicolas Gavory (def), Utrecht), Aleksandar Boljevic (att), Waasland-Beveren), Selim Amallah (mid), Mouscron), Mërgim Vojvoda (def), Mouscron), Anthony Limbombe (mid), Nantes - loan), Vanja Milinković-Savić (gk), Torino - loan), Darío Castro (att), Santa Fe - loan)

Out


Razvan Marin (k)(mid), Ajax), Moussa Djenepo (r)(mid), Southampton)

Standard Liege had a somewhat frustrating last season in which they at times hinted about their potential but never really stayed consistent enough to trouble the top two. They needed a bit of luck to eventually book a spot directly into Europa League and overall it felt that they somewhat underachieved. Now the pressure is very much on club icon Michel Preud'homme to deliver more success in his second season since taking over as a coach. He lost his best player in Razvan Marin but the club also allowed him to spend some serious money on reinforcements. Signing Zinho Venhuesden on permanent deal is a major investment but he did show massive progress last season and should blossom even more. Anthony Limbombe looks like a good signing as well, having played really well at Club Brugge a few years ago, while Felipe Avenatti brings competition for places in attack after a strong season at Kortrijk last year. The lack of real midfield presence apart from Gijko Cimirot, with no replacement for Marin signed yet, is a concern for the team and the defence looks somewhat light as well. That said, few teams can rival the quality and flexibility that the squad possesses right now.

Target


Will be aiming to ruffle the feathers of the top teams and battle for the title for a first time in ages but it feels like too much of a stretch.