Ronny Deila made it clear during the internship: “I hope to have reinforcements before the first league game.” For his part, Pierre Locht had also assured that the Liège decision-makers were scrutinizing several avenues and that if the transfer window had not yet taken off, it was because the management wanted not to be mistaken.
The first reinforcement for this summer transfer window 2022 could well come from Leipzig, a club where Johannes Spors, sporting director of Genoa who also officiates at Standard pending the arrival of Fergal Harkin in early August, still has a lot of contacts. This is the 19-year-old Dutch striker (international in all age categories), Noah Ohio. Robust (1m83), fast and skilful with the ball, this left-handed attacker (profile sorely lacking at the forefront of the Liège attack) was present this Wednesday to pass his medical tests. In particular, he met a few players.
Last season, Ohio was loaned by Leipzig to Austria Vienna where he played thirty games (six goals and two assists). Passed by Manchester City for three seasons during his training, Ohio is a profile known by the sporting director of Liège, Fergal Harkin, as well as by Johannes Spors who was the basis of his loan to Vitesse Arnhem in January 2021. It is well there a permanent transfer for the striker who had only one year of contract left in Germany. A transfer that almost collapsed at the very last moment because of… Vincent Kompany. It comes back to us that Burnley and the former T1 of the Mauves submitted a last minute offer, not far from three times higher than that of the Liégeois, to Leipzig who then wanted to retract. But nothing happened since the written agreement had already been given to Standard but also because the player expressed the wish to join Standard. The passage of Noah Ohio along the Meuse should be formalized this Thursday.
Pineda: Standard wants an option, Celta does not
Finally, the file of the Mexican midfielder Orbelin Pineda has become complicated in recent hours. Celta Vigo, where he is still under contract until 2027, obviously does not want to sell him or loan him with an option to buy before the World Cup, hoping that his player will still increase in value in Qatar. This is why AEK Athens, who offered a paying loan of one million euros without an option to buy, took the lead. The Standard, preferring to include an option to work over the long term. For his part, the player was willing to join Sclessin. But on the side of Greece, it is argued that Pineda must pass his medical examination this Thursday in Athens. On Wednesday morning, Standard was still continuing talks with Celta Vigo.
