ANTWERP BRING LEEDS, NORWICH AND BLACKBURN TARGET MANDELA KEITA BACK ON LOAN
Antwerp have announced that Mandela Keita has re-joined the side on loan for the 2023/2024 season. The 21-year-old central midfielder, who was reported to be of interest to Leeds, Norwich and Blackburn, spent the second half of the 2022/2023 season on loan at Antwerp. Part of the title winning squad, Antwerp have been working all summer to bring him back. They refused to pay the initial purchase option that had been included on the previous loan deal with OH Leuven, and have now negotiated a lower purchase option that they will be able to pick up at the end of this season.
Keita broke through at OH Leuven in 2021 and has made 40 appearances for the side. He did start their most recent game, a loss to newly promoted RWDM, with his future still in the balance. Now he can refocus on his football back at the defending champions. He played 19 games for Antwerp last season, scoring one goal.
Antwerp are also set to announce the singing of Dortmund defender Soumaïla Coulibaly on loan until the end of the season.
READ MORE: Jon Dahl Tomasson delivers Blackburn Rovers verdict on two excellent ace
Jon Dahl Tomasson delivers Blackburn Rovers verdict on Zak Gilsenan and Niall Ennis
Blackburn Rovers beat Walsall 4-3 in the first round of the Carabao Cup with three of their goals coming from academy graduates
Jon Dahl Tomasson has praised Zak Gilsenan’s performance against Walsall and challenged the Blackburn Rovers youngster to prove he’s ready for more first-team chances.
Rovers named five debutants in their team for the Carabao Cup first round. Four of them were academy graduates and three netted in the 4-3 victory over the Saddlers.
One of those was Gilsenan, who has taken advantage of the lack of attacking reinforcements during pre-season. He scored Rovers’ opening goal and set up John Buckley’s decisive fourth goal.
Tomasson was impressed with the youngster but demanded even more if Gilsenan wants to be a regular fixture in the first-team squad
“He scored an important goal, of course,” Tomasson told RoversTV. “He is a young boy who wants to become better.
“It is a big step forward for him to play this level. He had cramp in both calves after 60 minutes and maybe I left him on a little too long but you have to be hard and robust to manage that pain.
“You have to do the right things more often on a daily basis. He did the right things and he knows when he is lacking in some situations but he is learning.
“When you’re young, you should be learning every day and he is in a good situation to improve in these situations. For him, it was a good night.”
Niall Ennis was handed a first Rovers start after his summer switch from Plymouth Argyle. He netted Rovers’ second goal, a lovely sweeping move which he finished off with a close-range finish.
Ennis is playing catch-up with his fitness after a niggling groin injury. Tomasson was pleased with his performance but warned it is still pre-season for the striker.
“Niall played a really good game and our play was good. He scored a good goal as well,” he said.
“I think he did well, he is coming from behind, he had a lot of issues coming into the building. It’s pre-season for Niall and it will be for a while. Hopefully he comes through the game without any problems, I’ll know tomorrow.
“It was a great attack, great connection in the final third. He could’ve scored another goal in the first half, from the short corner. I am pleased for Niall.”
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