By:
Mark Hendry
Cian Doyle of Bray Wanderers is hoping to land a deal with Standard Liege, Pundit Arena understands.
The central midfielder has enjoyed a strong 18 months at Bray with 40 appearances to his name.
Doyle, 21, has scored four goals and provided nine assists in that period and has shone in the First Division.
He helped Bray to third place in the second tier of League of Ireland last season.
Then he played in the playoffs and helped take his club to the final only to lose out to Waterford.
That defeat meant Doyle would have to play another season in the First Division.
However, with his contract expiring later this summer, Doyle is looking for a new challenge.
That’s when Belgian giants Standard Liege took a chance on the player and invited him over for a trial period.
Cian Doyle on trial at Standard Liege
And the talent now has the opportunity to prove himself in training with the club in a bid to earn a contract.
Standard have kept a close eye on talent across Europe and took a shine to Doyle.
The playmaker will train with the academy squad, SL16FC, during his time in the country.
Their young squad has been built as a pathway towards first-team and it boasts many young internationals already.
Doyle has, perhaps, more experience in the men’s game than most of the players in the SL16FC side.
And that could potentially stand him in good stead as he competes for a deal.
Standard Liege currently play in the Belgian Pro League but have fallen away from their dominance in recent seasons.
Last term the club finished seventh in the division.
This campaign so far they are sitting eighth after matchday 22.
Former Cercle Brugge and Genk defender Vincent Euvrard is the head coach there.
Standard Liege not only club with transfer interest in Doyle
Should Doyle fail to convince the Belgians to make his stay permanent, he won’t be without a club for long.
Pundit Arena also understands the man in the engine room has interest in the Premier Division.
Clubs in Scottish football are also believed to be keeping an eye on his situation.
In both the Scottish Premiership and the Championship, with Dougie Imrie keen at Raith Rovers.
Doyle is young and still has plenty of time to make a decision.
If he fails to sign, he could still play the season with Bray, or at least the early matches in their calendar.
The young man has represented Republic of Ireland at youth level and will hope to get back to that level.
Although, we suspect, in the A squad down the line.
A move to a European league would certainly do him no harm.
It comes amid interest from Celtic in Vinnie Leonard which has shown LOI’s talent pool is strong.
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