Aster Vranckx was left out of the Wolfsburg squad this weekend amid interest from Premier League duo Everton and Nottingham Forest in the Bundesliga ace, as reported by BILD.
Niko Kovac is clearly not afraid of making the big decisions.
Thomas Muller found himself on the outside looking in during the Croatian’s time in charge of Bayern Munich and, since returning to Germany with Wolfsburg, it is now Aster Vranckx who is being left out in the cold.
The Belgium U21 international may be one of the most talented young players in Kovac’s squad. But the new man in charge at the Volkswagen Arena is opting for experience over exuberance, partering long-serving duo Joshua Guilavogui and Maxi Arnold at the heart of Wolfsburg’s midfield. Summer signing Mattias Svanberg, meanwhile, has pushed Vranckx even further down the pecking order.
So much so that, after playing just seven minutes in the first two Bundesliga matches of the new campaign, Vranckx wasn’t even in Kovac’s squad for Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Schalke.
Aster Vranckx could swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League
According to L’Equipe, big-spending Nottingham Forest are one of a number of clubs to table an offer for the one-time Liverpool target, alongside Fiorentina and Bologna. Everton are also keen, per The Athletic.
And the Toffees may be about to step up their pursuit, with Idrissa Gana Gueye’s return to Goodison Park from Paris Saint-Germain stalling.
“Vranckx has an enormous awareness. He’s a player with an enormous vision, especially at his age,” says Belgian football analyst Geert Heremans.
“He also has that great pass like (Atletico Madrid’s Axel) Witsel. He is more effective than Witsel.”
“Aster Vranckx is very strong. That may be due to the boxing training with his brothers, because he is very strong on his feet. Vranckx never lacks commitment. He always gives 200 per cent, even during training and during the warm-ups.”
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