Burnley could turn to Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez as Bart Verbruggen closes in on a £17 million move to Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
After missing out on Anderlecht’s 20-year-old Player of the Year nearly 12 months ago – work permit complications denying Burnley the chance to reunite Vincent Kompany with his former RCSA starlet at Turf Moor – history appears to be repeating itself.
The Clarets saw a new and improved £12 million offer for Bart Verbruggen rejected a few weeks ago.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Burnley will be pipped to be the post by Brighton; Roberto de Zerbi’s side closing in on a ‘exceptional’ goalkeeper who’s expert distribution and supreme technical-ability makes him tailor-made for this cultured Seagulls side.
“Brighton will pay 20 million euro fee for goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen,” Romano tweets. “A deal was already almost completed last week and (should be) sealed this week despite Burnley’s attempts.”
Burnley miss out on Bart Verbruggen to Brighton
No one could accuse the Championship champions of resting on their laurels, however. The Sun say that Jean Butez has been lined up as an alternative. Butez’s Royal Antwerp side beat Verbruggen’s Anderlecht to Jupiler League glory last term, Toby Alderweireld’s very own ‘Aguero moment’ sealing the club’s first domestic title since 1957 in May.
Butez kept a remarkable 27 clean sheets in all competitions last season.
“Butez is by far the best goalkeeper in the Belgian league,” says Hein Vanhaezebrouch, manager of Antwerp’s Jupiler League rivals KAA Gent.
“He is the most proactive ‘keeper on our fields. He does things that others don’t do and always anticipates in the right way.”
The man himself, meanwhile, admitted back in May that he would consider a fresh start. With his 29th birthday approaching, this may be Butez’s final chance to secure a move to a major league.
“I’m not going to deny it; my ambition is to take a step higher and there are opportunities to make a transfer,” he tells RTBF . “I am now 27 years old, and this might be the ideal time for a transfer.
“But even if I stay, the summer will be a success for me, because I may be able to discover the Champions League with Antwerp next season.”
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