HLN are reporting that Cercle Brugge are closing in on signing 28-year-old central midfielder Jean Thierry Lazare. The former Union St Gilloise and Standard Liege midfielder spent last season in Greek football with Kifisia but is available on a free transfer. Cercle Brugge recently announced that it would not be picking up the purchase options on a number of players who played for the side on loan last season. Lazare will replace some of these.

During his time with Union St Gilloise, Lazare was one of the top performing midfielders in the Belgian Pro League. He also became a full Cote d’Ivoire international and was part of the side that won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. The midfielder joined Union back in 2021 on loan from Charleroi and went on to play over 130 games for the side after the move was made permanent. He was part of the Union side that won the cup in 2024. He spent the second half of the 2024/2025 season on loan with Standard Liege, playing 18 games with two goals.

Cercle Brugge have been looking for a more dynamic midfielder since the departures of Leandro Lopes and Abu Francis. Lazare certainly gives them this, and if he can replicate his form from a few seasons ago he could prove to be a fantastic free agent signing for Cercle Brugge.