Today lets talk about Belgian side Eupen. For those who dont know, Eupen have three goalkeepers under contract.
Abdul Nurudeen
23 years (contract till 2026)
Marketvalue: € 600.000 (under23 in SO5 till 2023)
Sorare limited price on 24/4/22 7day average: 0.035 eth
Robin Himmelmann
33 years (contract till 2022)
Marketvalue: € 300.000
Sorare limited price on 24/4/22 7day average: 0.006 eth
Tom Roufosse
21 years (contract till 2022)
Marketvalue: € 25.000 (under23 in SO5 till 2025)
Sorare limited price on 24/4/22 7day average: 0.004 eth
You have clubs where its not completely clear who is the number 1 goalkeeper, and then you have Eupen.
If you read my other articles, normally i start with an explanation about the number 1 goalie. If we look to the stats from this season, you will see they both almost played half of the matches.
The last seasons in Eupen, there was never really a problem with keepers since their arrival in the Jupiler pro league (2016). Van Crombrugge (Anderlecht) played there for years, De Wolf (2nd gk in Antwerp) for a season and then last season Defourny was number 1. It was weird Defourny left last summer to 2nd division team RWDM, nobody saw that coming, cause he was the fixed number 1 in Eupen.
RWDM is playing the playoffs for promotion/relegation against Seraing, so who knows he might be in JPL after all next season.
With Defourny gone, they already brought in Himmelmann the winter before, free transfer from St-Pauli, where he was the number 1 for years, and it was expected him to be the new number 1 in Eupen with Defourny gone. Coach at that time was German, and an experienced goalkeeper also German, looked clear who would be the goalie for the season. It didn't turn out like that.
Eupen is owned by a Qatari foundation, who bring in a lot of players to Eupen from Africa with their Aspire academy. Letting them have their first steps in European football, i am sure names like Onyekuru or Moussa Wague will ring a bell to some of you. It was also like that Nurudeen arrived in Eupen almost 5 years ago. He was their 3rd goalkeeper for years, and made 1 appearance last season, when De Wolf and Defourny were unavailable. He didn't make a very good impression to be honest, so for the rest of the season there wasn't any mention of him. Especially when they brought in Himmelmann that winter to replace 2nd gk De Wolf when he left to Antwerp, so Nurudeen back being number 3.
Beginning of this season Nurudeen, by everyone's surprise, became number 1 and then we can summarize the goalkeepers first half of the season in Eupen as follows: Nurudeen played some matches, Himmelmann some matches, etc....... The second half of the season Nurudeen seemed to win the spot, but never really in a convincing way.
The fact he already got an international appearance for Ghana, and being a member of the Ghana squad for the Afcon, says more about the quality of goalkeepers in Ghana, then his abilities.
In Eupen there will change a lot this summer, as more then 14 players are out of contract.
Himmelmann has already confirmed that his contract will not be renewed, and might expect him to end up in Germany again.
Nurudeen was one of the few who still got a contract and it was even renewed till 2026 this week. So it does seem Eupen board has some confidence in him. For sure they will bring in a new keeper, to at least give competition to Nurudeen, and then it has to been seen who will be number 1. Youngster and 3rd gk Roufosse is out of contract this summer, but no confirmation yet what will happen with him.
Disclaimer: this is not any Sorare or financial advice, i am just expressing my own ideas. Do your own research if you would want to buy or sell one of their cards.