Charles De Ketelaere- Going to AC Milan.

[Cjay]

Been backed up as a target by all the reliable sources.

21 year old Belgium International.

Seen as the next big thing to come out of Belgium.

18 goals and 10 assists last season for Club Brugge.

A very versatile player who can play on the wing or as a 10 but actually played up front centrally more for Brugge last season either in a 4-3-3 or in a 2 with Noa Lang.

His size and strength (he stands at 6ft3) make him able to do the more traditional holding up of an old fashioned striker but his movement and willingness to do the hard yards mean he would drift wide or drop deep into intelligent positions.

Think of a younger and more technical Bamford.

Not a proper number 9 but not really a midfielder either and not really a direct Raph replacement frankly.

He should be our striker target tbh.

Unfortunately it seems his signing is reliant on selling Raphinha and then being able to convince him to turn down clubs in European competitions or at the very least clubs who didn't survive on the last day.

A problem we caused ourselves really because of our unwillingness to push on 12months ago after a good season.

But anyway.

A fee of £30-40mil would be required for a talented but unproven player in a top league.

A replacement/competition for Bamford? Absolutely.

A replacement for Raphinha? Not really imo.

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[Lumiukko]

Got a bit of De Bruyne about this kid. Already looks beyond our station though unfortunately.

[Irish Ian]

Looks about 12, should be good mates with Poveda and Meslier.

[Cjay]

Can't say 100% if this is true but possible.

And thus is the issue we have.

Had we approached players last summer we could have sold them on finishing 9tj and pushing on.

This summer we are a side that almost went down and is selling there best players.

How do you sell that to the most talented players? You can't.

[Scoobychief]

you can get him up real good on fifa

[Cjay]

We see De Ketelaere as a forward not as a Raph replacement.

That's excellent news.

Reports in Belgium still say he has turned us down but let's hope.

If he is our striker I'd be a happy Cjay but we would still require 3 of 4 more additional signings.

[CanuckMightyWhite]

Now we are talking. If we can pull this off, and adequately replace Kalvin (Adams or better) Kalvin’s fee (or lack of) will be somewhat forgotten.

[Rover]

Looks like a very good prospect; it will be difficult to persuade him to come to ER; very happy if he does come tho.

Big question; are there any other clubs interested?

[CanuckMightyWhite]

Looks like a very good prospect; it will be difficult to persuade him to come to ER; very happy if he does come tho.

Big question; are there any other clubs interested?

Yep, Leicester and AC Milan known thus far. Neither have apparently bid yet.

[Rook]

Charles De Ketelaere. Sounds like a baddie from an Indiana Jones movie.

[WhiteRose]

This guy looks class, seems more of a De Bruyne type to me than a striker and at 6 foot 3 would add a bit of height, very good at pressing and ball recoveries - would be a big coup for us and be exactly what we need. Be amazed if it happened though, club can’t say we don’t have the reddies!

[MightyWhites]

This won't happen. Too big to a name already.

[SG90]

We see De Ketelaere as a forward not as a Raph replacement.

That's excellent news.

Reports in Belgium still say he has turned us down but let's hope.

If he is our striker I'd be a happy Cjay but we would still require 3 of 4 more additional signings.

[Scoobychief]

This won't happen. Too big to a name already.

i tend to agree with you that this will not happen, would be ace, but like you say he's too big to come here.

[1964white]

Looks a class prospect.

Signing him is another matter.

[DDB220]

It could happen if we insert the statutory clause of willing to cell to City if they activate his Informal 40 million transfer clause. Who knows we might make a couple of quid.

[Cjay]

For what it's worth Charlie as I shall now call him is in England.

Specifically he was in London yesterday watching the tennis.

[Lumiukko]

Apparently he's a smart lad. Dropped out of a law degree to pursue a career in football. Will get on well with Bamford I would think.

[Cjay]

Leeds will formulate, by tomorrow, an offer of €30m including bonus for Charles De Ketelaere. As reported by @RudyGaletti , the club had a more positive contact than in the past with his agent. Milan plans to follow, but not tomorrow. Leicester hesitate

A 2nd tweet says

AC Milan see De Ketelaere as a very good move, but at this stage it is Leeds who seem the most likely to move quickly. This does NOT mean that De Ketelaere chose Leeds. We are still at the beginning of the discussions.

And a final tweet basically says Club Brugge want about £35million which is approximately £10mil more than we are offering.

[faaip]

If CDK did come I'd imagine he's want a manageable buy out clause. Would you still want to buy him knowing we may have to sell cheap in the future?