Red Bull New York is set to give manager Gerhard Stuber a very exciting birthday gift as the club is “in the final stages” of signing Royale Union Saint-Gilloise star and Belgian international striker Dante Vanzeir according to Peter Calcoen of Nieuwsblad Sport in Belgium; also now confirmed by MLS transfer guru Tom Bogert.
“With his explosiveness, depth, and nose for goals, he is a dream asset for coach Gerhard Struber.”
While Vanzeir was a dream signing for Struber, it doesn’t come without a price and it’s a hefty one for Red Bull. The expected transfer fee for Vanzeir to New York is expected to be north of five million euros. But, for a team like Red Bull who lacked goal-scoring in 2022, this is a necessary signing for the club.
https://twitter.com/pvtmcbain/status/1618076057130893316?s=20&t=0XPgFjgDAUzEGRTPFW69ng
The right-footed Vanzeir started his career with Belgian powerhouse KRC Genk, coming up through the academy. But after two loan stints with KFCO Beerschot (second division) and KV Mechelen (first division), scoring 20 goals in 57 appearances over those two seasons, Vanzeir was sold to second division side Union SG.
From there Vanzeir would take Union by storm in 2020-2021, bringing them up to the Juplier Pro league for the first time in 49 years! In 27 appearances, Vanzeir recorded 21 goals and 9 assists.
For the past two seasons with Union back in the top fight of Belgium, Vanzeir hasn’t missed a beat, replicating what he did in the second division posting 27 goals & 12 assists in 64 appearances.
With his 10 goals in Belgium this season, Vanzeir is currently 5th in the Belgian league in scoring, just four behind leaders Vincent Janssen & Paul Onuachu.
Vanzeir also scored in the UEFA Champions League this season when Union battled against Rangers in the final round of qualifying for the Champions League group stage. Check out the highlights below!
https://youtu.be/meWEIeVG3d4?t=320
Once the deal gets over the line, Vanzeir will be joining a jam-packed forward group with the likes of Lewis Morgan, Patryk Klimala, Corey Burke, Elias Manoel & Tom Barlow already in the building.
With all the names just mentioned, expect manager Gerhard Struber to implement a duel striker set up like a 4-4-2/4-2-2-2 as Red Bull’s base setup going into the season. Or potentially a 3-5-2 like Vanzier & Union ran exclusively last season on their way to a league title.
In Peter Calcoen’s article, he mentions that Vanzeir is best played next to someone in the attack.
“The club (Union) realizes that the striker has a very specific profile – he plays best in a two-striker system, and there aren't very many clubs that play that way – so there will never be a long list of interested parties. With that information in mind, Red Bulls' offer is very attractive to Union.”
With things starting to hit the final stages in the Vanzeir transfer saga, Struber and Red Bull seem to have got their guy. “NY Red Bulls tracked down Vanzeir through intensive scouting and was immediately convinced of his potential added value”, per Nieuwsblad Sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPmwQmW6b8Q
When the pen is put to paper, officially, Dante Vanzeir will become the biggest transfer in Red Bull club history, surpassing Kaku’s $5.5M fee in 2018 and Patryk Klimala’s $4.36M in 2021.
That big of a fee will put pressure on Vanzeir to perform at Red Bull Arena. But based on his recent track record, he’s built for the pressure and is ready for the challenge to lead Red Bull to its first major trophy in club history!
It’s officially Vanzier watch season at Newark airport.
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