Herve Koffi poised for Union Saint-Gilloise move as Belgian Pro League return edges closer

Union Saint-Gilloise are closing in on a loan deal for RC Lens goalkeeper Herve Koffi as they move swiftly to replace departing first-choice Kjell Scherpen, according to reports in Belgium.

The Brussels club urgently needed a new senior keeper after Scherpen’s transfer to Ipswich, leaving 20-year-old Vic Chambaere to start Friday’s Super Cup match against Club Bruges in goal.

Union’s hierarchy have responded quickly to the gap in such a crucial position and have made Koffi their top target, with La Derniere Heure reporting that the Burkina Faso international has become the club’s absolute priority.

Loan agreement close to completion

After a strong season on loan at Angers, Koffi was looking for a fresh challenge, particularly as RC Lens had no plans to integrate him into their first-team set-up for the coming campaign.

Union are understood to have moved ahead of several other interested clubs – including sides in France, as revealed by Africafoot – by acting quickly to negotiate a loan arrangement that satisfies all parties involved.

Barring any late change, the 29-year-old is expected to sign for Union on Thursday. That timing would allow him to be registered in time for the third qualifying round of the Champions League against Bodo Glimt.

Match sharp and returning to familiar territory

Koffi’s match fitness is not in doubt. He featured for Lens in a pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, ensuring he would arrive in Brussels already up to speed physically.

The move would mark a return to a league he knows well. The goalkeeper of Les Etalons has already enjoyed two productive spells in Belgium, first with Mouscron and then with Charleroi. Joining Union would therefore be his third professional stint in the Belgian top flight.

Strong numbers at Angers and long Lens deal

Last season, the Bobo-Dioulasso-born keeper kept 10 clean sheets in 27 Ligue 1 appearances for Angers, underlining the form that attracted renewed interest from abroad.

Despite being surplus to requirements at Lens for now, Koffi remains under contract with the French club until 2028. He is currently on an annual salary of €720,000 (468,000,000 FCFA), a figure that forms part of the financial equation in the loan discussions.

If the deal is finalised as expected, Union Saint-Gilloise will have secured an experienced and in-form replacement for Scherpen, while Koffi will gain the regular game time he is seeking in a familiar environment and on a European stage.