The club have announced that left-back Cheick Keita has joined Belgian club KAS Eupen on a season-long loan.
He spent last season out on loan at Bologna, and it seems the Malian doesn’t figure in Garry Monk’s first team plans for the upcoming campaign.
Fans were disappointed that the 22-year-old wasn’t given a chance during pre-season:
That’s a shame ????
— BrummieJoe ???????????????????????????? ???? (@BrummieJoeHD) 28 June 2018
Why what’s the point of keeping him if we keep loaning him out what a waste of talent… #BCFC
— Hotshot Hale (@HotshotHale) 28 June 2018
He will be ok at Eupen. No language issues, a young team, a club which is the archetypal feeder club. Don’t write him off yet
— Benno (@Bluewurst1875) 28 June 2018
Exciting player to watch in brief glimpses but if he was as good as some think then he'd be going to a higher level. Trust Monk
— Fin (@yalnif13) 28 June 2018
He has alot of quality and should be given the chance more as a winger than a left back
— shem (@shemtheory) 28 June 2018
Don’t make any sense why not keep him he would of been great out wide
— DÃŽŽ™ ???? (@DAZGUETTA) 28 June 2018
? He's quality. Such a shame.
— Fabian G. B. Rivers ???????????????????????????????? (@dreadyvet) 28 June 2018
Won’t ever play for us again obviously. Waste of a talent.
— dale (@dpj94) 28 June 2018
Let’s hope he gets some game time this time around. Development wasn’t done any favours by sitting on the sidelines all last season.
— Scoobay (@Scoobay1875) 28 June 2018
Verdict
Eupen do play in the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium’s top division, and although it is a step down from Serie A, he will likely get more game time during his second loan spell away from St Andrew’s.
I do find it a bit strange though that this decision wasn’t delayed for a few weeks. The move has likely been in the works for a while, but Monk could have given him a chance to impress during pre-season before sending him out on loan again.
He may not have been the best defensively, but as many other fans say, he could have been an asset further up the field on the wing. Obviously, the manager doesn’t think so though, so it’s probably wise just to trust him on this.