Leeds United are reportedly showing strong interest in signing Belgium international Charles De Ketelaere. According to the Athletic, the Whites are keen to take the forward from Club Bruges this summer as they look to bolster their attacking options.
De Ketelaere caught the eye last season with his performances up front for the Belgian champions, scoring 18 goals in all competitions to help Bruges to a league and Belgian Super Cup double. As such, he is attracting plenty of attention from around the continent with Leicester City being said to be keen earlier this month, while AC Milan have also been linked.
However, Leeds are in the hunt for the 21-year-old, who has won eight caps for his country since making his debut in November 2020. De Ketelaere emerged through the youth ranks at Bruges and he has now made 90 appearances for the first-team, with last season being by far his most successful in terms of goals scored and progress.
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He spent most of last year playing as a striker, but his versatility is another key asset, with De Ketelaere boasting the ability to play further back as a centre-midfielder, as a number 10 and on both flanks. With Leeds keen on taking him to Elland Road, Leeds Live have done a bit of digging to find out what has been said about him in the past.
Roberto Martinez, manager of Belgium
“First of all, I don’t look at the football player Charles De Ketelaere but at the human being," he told Het Laaste Nieuws. "I see someone who is already very experienced, who is comfortable in his own skin. Really impressive. He is a great player who can easily find space and play with his back to goal.
“His greatest qualities are turning away and playing forward. In addition, he is very good with both feet. We shouldn’t want to pin Charles to one position too quickly.
“With us, he is better with a number nine in front of him but in specific matches he can definitely play as a striker. He reads the game in an exceptional way. I haven’t seen many Belgian players who could do what he does at that age.”
Alfred Schreuder, former Club Bruges coach
"Charles De Ketelaere reminds me of Bryan Ruiz. (Dusan) Tadic," he told Het Laatste Nieuws. "Also (Hakim) Ziyech. Of course I don't want to compare him with (Lionel) Messi, but I see things in Charles' thinking pattern... Creative players can decide things in a split second. Charles can do that too.
"When he gets the ball, you as an opponent do not always know what he is going to do with it. Neither do I, as a trainer. You also want him to do things instinctively, because then Charles is at his best. He can be a genius then
"Charles is also a huge winner."
Frans Buyse, De Krant van West-Vlaanderen journalist
"Charles' best position is number 10," he told BBC Sport. "But experienced star Hans Vanaken plays there, so he had been moved around, used in attack, on the wing and even at left-back. Lately, he started to enjoy life in the penalty area, but his biggest strength is to have a lot of the ball in central midfield.
"De Ketelaere's style is reminiscent of De Bruyne. He is intelligent, and possesses great vision and a superb passing range. His dribbling is similar to De Bruyne's too. Eventually, he should take his place for Belgium."
Paul Courant, former Belgium international
“Put Charles at Chelsea tomorrow and he will play immediately," he said, as per Football London. "Especially, under that trainer [Thomas Tuchel] – I know that club and the vision of their coach a little bit.
“Charles no longer needs a refresher course. He is already a modern footballer – physically, technically and mentally.
“The next step for Charles should be as high as possible. He does not first have to pass a few smaller European clubs. Just because everything is already very well put together with him.
“You know, if Charles would have grown up in Munich, he would now be playing for Bayern. I may be very euphoric, but it is true. I’m glad there’s someone like that walking around in Belgium.”
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