Grasshoppers substitute linked to Anderlecht

TRANSFERS Italian website Calciomercato writes that Anderlecht would be interested in Meritan Shabani, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder. Shabani has been playing for Grasshoppers in Switzerland since the summer, but he has not played much there.


From the age of 7 to 20, Shabani played football for Bayern Munich, where he made two appearances in the Bundesliga. In the summer of 2019, he moved to Wolverhampton. There he joined the U21 squad. A six-month loan spell to VVV from Venlo followed in 2021, where he would make four starts and one substitute in the Eredivisie. After another year with Wolverhampton's U21 side, he moved to Grasshoppers last summer.

It was not yet a success. He made only two starts for the number seven (out of ten teams) in the Swiss premier league. Ten times he was substituted. In the cup, he also made one appearance.

According to Calciomercato, Shabani nevertheless enjoys interest from Hellas Verona. According to the website, the Italian club would face competition from several European clubs, including Anderlecht. Calciomercato speaks of a €2 million price tag. Striking, as Transfermarkt estimates his current market value at just €300,000.

We would be very surprised should Anderlecht actually be interested in Shabani. A benchwarmer from a low-flyer in Switzerland, seriously? Moreover, purple-white does not really need an attacking midfielder at the moment. Let that be the type that is sufficiently present in this selection.