KRC Genk has received a significant financial boost this season from the departures of two top young talents. Technical director Dimitri de Condé explains that the club is drawing lessons from these sales for its future rebuilding plans.
The club sold 16-year-old attacker Konstantinos Karetsas this summer for a fee that could rise to €33 million. Lucca Brughmans also left for Liverpool for a record sum, bringing tens of millions of euros into the coffers combined. Karetsas, an attacking midfielder, only signed his first professional contract with Genk's first team at age sixteen. "Kos is an extreme talent. That's why Dortmund, AS Roma, AC Milan, … wanted him," said De Condé. He added: "We could have enjoyed him for longer."
De Condé states that the traditional method of squad planning is no longer feasible. "If you can work in three-year blocks as a technical director, you can build something, but nowadays that's not possible," he explained. The enormous interest in young players like Karetsas means player cycles are becoming shorter. Genk must therefore be able to pivot more quickly between developing talent and selling it on.
The transfer windfall comes as the team sits eighth in the Jupiler Pro League with eight points from five matches. Recent form has been mixed with two wins, two draws, and one defeat in the last five league games. The most recent result was a 0-0 draw against Anderlecht. A goal difference of +4 (twelve for, eight against) shows there is work to be done at both ends of the pitch. The team trails leaders Gent by seven points.
The next major fixture is on 20 September against Club Brugge, who currently sit third. The squad for that encounter and the rest of the schedule can be found on the squad and fixtures pages. The financial flexibility created by the transfers is intended to help reshape the team for the months ahead.
