Kouyaté: "I maybe stay another six months"

He had been sent off early in the last match of previous season. Kouyaté got a red card, when he tackled Jens Naessens in the decisive match of the championship.


Verdict: suspended for two matches and a fine of 200 euro. Anderlecht didn't want to fight this punishment, so Kouyaté had to take a seat in the stadium for two matches.

No one would have ever thought that he is still in Anderlecht. Everyone thought he played his last match for Anderlecht against Zulte-Waregem previous season, because he really wanted to leave. He preferred to go to England. But now, 20 days until transfer market closes, Kouyaté is still in Anderlecht. With a Belgian passport, but without any offers from across the North Sea.

Anderlecht will meet the manager of Kouyaté shortly and discuss about a new contract. However, there is still a transfer price set for him. Anderlecht wants to get at least seven million euro if he leaves.

The player is clear: "I'm gone if there is an English offer", tells Kouyaté to Het Laatste Nieuws. But that's not the case yet, because Anderlecht dind't receive an English bid so far. His manager claims that the English clubs just wait until Kouyaté gets his Belgian passport (in the meanwhile he received his Belgian passport on the 1st of August).

Kouyaté is getting nervous though: "My head spins and I don't sleep because of the uncertainty". The defender tries to focus on Anderlecht, but that's not always easy to do. "Especially next to the pitch."

But Kouyaté is grateful for Mbemba. Thanks to Mbemba, it's easier to leave Anderlecht because the club already has someone to replace him. However, he doesn't exlude that he remains another six months and plays Champions League at Anderlecht. John van den Brom told Kouyaté he hopes Cheikhou will stay, but the coach will respect any possible decision of the player.