Targets: Belgium
With the January transfer window upon us, Sky Sports' Belgian football expert Kristof Terreur gives his verdict on five stars from the Jupiler Pro League who could be on their way to England.
Monday 6 January 2014 11:25, UK
Kristof Terreur gives his verdict on five potential Premier League arrivals from Belgium.
Kristof Terreur worked as a football writer at Voetbal magazine before taking up his current position as the Premier League correspondent for Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. He is also Sky Sports' Belgium correspondent and we caught up with him get his expert verdict on five stars from the country who we could be seeing in the Premier League.Michy Batshuayi
Age: 20Nationality: Belgium
Club: Standard Liege
Position: Striker
Good fit for: Everton; Swansea
The word
Batshuayi is enjoying a sensational season in Belgium having scored 15 goals in 22 league games for Standard Liege so far this season. This form has seen some demand his call up for the senior team ahead of the World Cup. "He still has to learn a lot, but he is fast, can play in many positions and fit into different systems," said Hein Vanhaezebrouck, coach of Belgian club KV Kortrijk. "Michy is someone who is able to make a difference and you need such a player at the World Cup."Kristof's expert view
Michy Batshuayi is Belgium's next star striker having taken the Belgian Pro League by storm this season. The U21 international is a very versatile striker, not a one trick pony. Most of the time he is clinical in the box, has pace, power, an athletic body, can strike the ball well with both feet and is a huge nuisance for defenders. His heading is a weak point, though and sometimes he's still too selfish.
Arsenal have sent some scouts to watch him. Ty Gooden followed him in the U21 games, but from what I hear they're not convinced yet. He still has everything to prove at the highest level and has to work on his discipline. He admits he often comes too late for training sessions - the police caught him with an alarm pistol in the trunk of his car and he was sent away at the Belgian U21 for inviting girls to his room. Juvenile.
Standard say they're not willing to sell their top striker in the January window, but he has a release clause of £6.8 million in his contract. Swansea made a bid last summer, but the club's president rejected it. Now an as yet unknown English club (possibly Everton) is reportedly willing to trigger the clause to loan him to Belgian champions Anderlecht.
Cheikhou Kouyate
Age: 23Nationality: Senegal
Club: Anderlecht
Position: Centre-back
Good fit for: Fulham