Yahoo Sports Belgian Pro League 2024/2025 Preview: Standard Liege
On and off the pitch, the last 12 months for Standard Liege have been a disaster. The side could easily have ended up in the relegation play-offs, and off the pitch owners 777 have been handed multiple transfer bans. The future around the club is incredibly uncertain, with the owners looking to sell and almost no money available for new signings. Plenty of players have left and many think that it is only a matter of time before head coach Ivan Leko decides enough is enough.
Last seasons position: 12th
Transfers in: David Bates (KV Mechelen), Grejohn Kyei (Clermont Foot), Bosko Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Boli Bolingoli (KV Mechelen), Marko Bulat (Dinamo Zagreb, loan)
Transfers out: Cihan Canak (Trabzonspor), Denis Dragus (Trabzonspor), Noah Ohio (FC Utrecht), William Balikwisha (OH Leuven), Gilles Dewaele (Kortrijk), Moussa Djenepo (Antalyaspor, loan), Merveille Bokadi (free), Konstantinos Laifis (free)
Overview:
Plenty of players have left, and there are still more likely to go. The club wants to move on from Arnaud Bodart but are struggling to find a club willing to pay what they want for him. They also want to sell Stipe Perica, and have done for some time. The 29-year-old Croatian forward has been with the club for a while now and contributed little on the pitch.
There are still some talented youngsters in the squad, such as goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo and Nathan Ngoy. Rwandan international Hakim Sahabo also impressed last season when given an opportunity, and opportunities for young players are likely to be plenty this season. In Grejohn Kyei, they do have a striker that had some success two seasons ago in Ligue 1. He has only just joined up with the squad so may take some time to get up to full fitness.
With little money to play with, one could argue that Standard have done well. The problem the club has is that it is one of the biggest clubs in Belgium and has a passionate fan base that want success. Fans have been frustrated with the direction in recent years and it does not look like this season will see an upturn in fortunes. Everything depends on who the new owners are and when they will arrive.
