Options Open For Onyewu And Standard Mates

The January transfer window is rapidly approaching and the time for pillaging smaller clubs is near. One club that could be hit hard is Belgium’s Standard Liege. The reigning Belgian champions have a number of players that are drawing interest from bigger clubs throughout Europe including U.S. international Oguchi Onyewu.

Speaking to the media prior to Thursday’s UEFA Cup victory over Partizan, Standard vice-president Luciano D’Onofrio said that the steady central defender had also been offered a new deal to stay in Belgium.

“We have made a new offer and (Onyewu) asked me for a period of time to think about it,” D’Onofrio said.

With reports out that clubs like Olympique Marseille are tracking Onyewu a move away from Standard seems likely for the massive American. But D’Onofrio is hopeful that a new contract at Liege, a place where Onyewu has flourished, could be enough to keep the defender on board. At the very least, the vice-president is convinced the club’s offer will be enough to keep Onyewu from moving to a rival club in Belgium, as has been previously rumored.

“If he decides to leave it will be for a foreign club,” D’Onofrio said. “He is not going to Anderlecht.”  

The D.C. native is not the only significant player Standard could lose in the near future. Axel Witsel, the versatile 19-year-old midfielder, could also be on the move. Several big clubs including Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United have been linked with Witsel. However, Standard has already turned down a nearly 20 million Euro bid for the young player’s services, so it will likely take a monstrous offer to pry him away from his hometown club.

Another player likely to be on the move is Serbian striker Milan Jovanovic. Rumor has it that the 27-year-old is being looked at by A.C. Milan. Jovanovic was the Belgian Jupiler Player of the Year during Standard’s run to the 2007-2008 league title.

With or without Onyewu, Witsel, and Jovanovic, Standard will likely be moving on to the knockout stage of the UEFA cup. A 1-0 victory over Partizan saw the team go top of Group C with all six points from their first two matches.

-- Allen Ramsey, Goal.com