Liverpool youngster Lucca Brughmans is continuing to impress after his transfer, extending his strong run of form and giving Reds fans another reason for optimism
Genk's goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans pictured during a soccer match between KRC Genk and KV Kortrijk
Lucca Brughmans earned another clean sheet against KV Kortrijk(Image: Getty Images)
Lucca Brughmans has continued his impressive run of form following his transfer to Liverpool, providing another encouraging sign for the Reds.
Genk secured a 3-0 victory over KV Kortrijk, taking an early lead through Daan Heymans after just three minutes before Harrison Murray-Campbell's own goal doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. KV Kortrijk's task became even more difficult when Shandre Campbell was sent off in the 49th minute after receiving a second yellow card. Genk capitalized on its numerical advantage to extend their lead shortly afterwards, through Rafiu Durosinmi.
Brughmans made one save during the match. He completed 19 passes, recording a passing accuracy of 78.9 per cent. The clean sheet was his third of the season.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper completed a deadline-day move to Liverpool in a deal that could eventually be worth up to $41 million (£30 million). After travelling to Merseyside to finalize the transfer and undergo a medical, Brughmans returned to Belgium after agreeing to spend the season on loan at his former club, Genk.
Liverpool is understood to have paid a nominal initial fee for the highly rated Belgian. Real Madrid was also reportedly interested in Brughmans, who is regarded as one of the most promising young players in his age group.
Genk director of football Dimitri de Conde recently expressed his surprise at Liverpool's transfer swoop. "My first reaction was: 'Oh boy, what now?'. After all, a team had to take the field just a few days later," De Conde replied when he was asked by Het Laatste Nieuws (translated by Sport Witness ) if he was surprised when the offer came in from the Premier League giant.
"But then, seeing how Lucca performed at Anderlecht... and I’m not just talking about those two fantastic saves, but also his presence and his post-match interviews.
Genk's goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans is pictured in action during a soccer match between RSC Anderlecht and Krc Genk
Lucca Brughmans has impressed back at Genk(Image: (Photo by BRUNO FAHY / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty Images))
"I knew he was on the radar of top clubs, that he’d even visited Real Madrid, and that he was one of the lads we hoped to get a handsome fee for at some point, to ensure the club’s survival.
"But for it to happen *that* quickly. And for that amount... I never saw that coming. That’s exactly the point. People saying ‘It’s fantastic what De Conde achieved with his experience regarding Lucca’s transfer!’? Sorry, but that’s not the case.
"In the end, I got a call from his agency at 11am on a Sunday, two days before the English transfer window closed.
"Liverpool is serious. ‘This is the offer.’ And the very next morning, Lucca was on a plane to Liverpool. I do take credit for the fact that we, as a club, chose that path.
"I don’t pick the starting line-up — let’s be clear about that — but at a certain point, we gave Lucca his chance. It might have only been in the Play-Off 2 stage, but we did it nonetheless."