Cercle Brugge is currently focused on both acquiring new players and coping with injuries as they approach their next fixtures. One of the standout players under consideration is Alan Minda, who is attracting attention from prominent clubs, including Flamengo. The 21-year-old forward from Ecuador, who currently plays for Cercle Brugge and has also represented his national team, has caught the eye of Flamengo’s new director of football, José Boto.
Minda, having joined Cercle Brugge from Independiente del Valle this past July, has made significant contributions with 26 appearances and two goals so far this season. Flamengo has begun initial talks to explore the possibility of acquiring Minda, should they express firm interest. According to reports from Trivela, Boto was impressed after watching Minda play during several matches and believes he could be a valuable addition to the squad, especially considering the recent concerns surrounding their offensive line.
Plagued by injury issues, Flamengo is currently seeking reinforcements, particularly after the departure of Gabigol, who did not renew his contract, and with Pedro sidelined by injury. This situation has elevated the urgency for Flamengo to secure a proficient center forward before the opening of three transfer windows available for recruitment throughout 2025. The next window begins on January 3, 2025, and runs until February 28.
Meanwhile, Cercle Brugge is not without its challenges, as they are coping with the recent injury of Paris Brunner, who has begun to showcase his burgeoning talent on loan from Monaco. Brunner's injury occurred during their recent match against OH Leuven, and he is expected to miss several weeks, presenting another hurdle for Cercle Brugge coach. This setback is particularly unfortunate for the team as they have already lost Kevin Denkey to Major League Soccer.
Brunner, only 18 years old, has played 14 matches, including European competitions this season, and notched one goal. His dribbling skills and ability to strike at goal have been acknowledged, but his inconsistency in decision-making when to shoot or pass has been highlighted as areas for improvement. Coach’s expectations for him to capitalize on more opportunities have been tempered by availability concerns. At this point, the winter break provides some buffer for recovery but finding any silver linings is more coveted as the season progresses.
This all circles back to Cercle Brugge’s performance on the field. Currently placed 13th in the Belgian Pro League, they have recorded five wins, five draws, and nine losses. They found themselves encumbered by their inability to maintain clean sheets, demonstrating evident vulnerability at the back. Their last five matches yielded mixed results, only managing one win — heightening the urgency for securing valuable reinforcements such as Minda.
The upcoming match against Sint-Truiden, who sit directly below them on the league table, will be pivotal for Cercle Brugge. With the match scheduled for December 27, both teams will be entering the game desperately needing points to avoid getting embroiled deep within the relegation battle. The odds are slightly tipped favorably for Sint-Truiden, marking the stakes high for Cercle Brugge to turn their fortunes around.
For those interested, Sint-Truiden has seen similar struggles this season, collecting more losses than wins, but have recently improved their home form, showcasing the potential for goals, which will add to the challenge for Cercle Brugge this week. Statistics from their previous encounters show Cercle Brugge with eight victories out of 14 clashes against Sint-Truiden, indicating past success which they hope to replicate.
With the transfer windows swiftly approaching, and both the injury bug affecting their current squad, this will be a significant time for Cercle Brugge to assess their roster and make strategic moves to bolster their chances of success as the season continues. They are acutely aware of the pressure mounting as they strive to find both short-term solutions for their injured players and long-term investments like Alan Minda to not only survive but thrive within the Belgian Pro League.
