2 weeks ago
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Most valuable player in Belgian League history
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The Belgian Jupiler Pro League continues to be one of the world's best division's for nurturing and developing talented young players. And one of the latest talents on the production line is 22-year-old Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari. The Swiss international recently became the most valuable player in the history of the Belgian top-flight, boasting a €32 million market value, and a number of Europe's top clubs are now competing for his signature this summer.
According to reports, AC Milan and Manchester United both hold serious interest in Jashari, with the former reportedly already having had a bid rejected for the midfielder this window. With expert insight from Belgium from a former Club Brugge scout and now TM Area Manager, here at Transfermarkt, we bring you more on the young midfielder, revealing his playing style, how he has developed in the Belgian top-flight, where his future may lie, and more.
What type of player is Ardon Jashari?
"Jashari is a versatile player who can play both as a defensive midfielder and a box-to-box midfielder," explains Bart Tamsyn - former scout for Brugge's second-team Club NXT and now Area Manager for Belgium. "Although he is not one of the tallest players, he is a ball winner and can keep possession in a duel. He also reads the game well and can pass the ball in the perfect spot. In addition, he knows how to infiltrate the opponent's box, as evidenced by the four goals he scored last season from a deeper position." When asked what player Jashari reminded him of Tamsyn brought up a former Arsenal midfielder: "If comparisons can be made, it is usually with Granit Xhaka. They are both Swiss, both distribute the ball from a deeper midfield position, both are good at ball recovery, and both are left-footed."
The Swiss international has made a huge impact in the Jupiler Pro League, after arriving from Swiss Super League side FC Luzern last summer for €6m. He helped his team reach the round of 16 of the Champions League and finish second in the league, and has already become a fan favourite at the club. "It took him a few months to earn a place in the team because he joined late in preseason due to international commitments," Tamsyn stated. "Once in the team, he quickly grew and proved his worth. Most Belgian football fans, friends and rivals alike, agree that he is the best player in the Belgian league, and his colleagues across the league voted him Player of the Season."
Which league would best suit Ardon Jashari & how much would he cost?
Interest from a number of top-five league clubs has ignited in Jashari over the past six months, but it would appear the player is only willing to move on for a club that is the right fit. "Both the club and the player have expressed their confidence in each other, so a transfer is not necessarily required this summer," revealed Tamsyn. "Jashari is therefore aiming for a stable top club should a transfer take place, with Serie A and the Bundesliga being his preferences." Potential bad news for Premier League clubs, as Tamsyn expands on: "Jashari has already declined Fulham's interest, and Manchester United will not be an option either, as he considers the club too unstable at the moment."
"He was charmed by Borussia Dortmund's interest, but they ultimately chose Jobe Bellingham. The most concrete option at the moment is AC Milan. Earlier this week, they made an opening offer of €27m + €3m in bonuses. They hope to end up somewhere around €35m, but for now, Club Brugge are sticking to their €40m asking price. After all, they realise that Milan has capital, thanks in part to the sale of Tijjani Reijnders." It seems likely any Jashari exit will not only become Club Brugge's record-sale but the record departure for the entire league. "Club Brugge quickly realised that they could break the previous summer's record transfer fee of €33m (excluding bonuses) for Igor Thiago. An asking price of €40 million was quickly set for him. Jashari is also a very calm guy, very mature for his age, so there is no rush."
