Left-back Eric Bocat is reportedly available for about £1 million

Left-back Eric Bocat was reportedly not in pre-season training at Sint Truiden yesterday in what has been taken as a big hint that he will leave the club.

The 24-year-old, who has played as left wing-back for Sint Truiden in the Belgian top flight, had a contract extension until 2025 triggered in March but apparently with the understanding that his club would be able to command a fee this summer but not block his exit. The Belgian press suggest that will be about 1.2 million Euros or £1m.

He had been strongly linked with a move to Trabzonspor in the January window but it is suggested that the clubs couldn’t agree a price to get a deal over the line. He was linked by The Sun with interest from Leicester City in the spring too but it’s Stoke City who seem to be front of the queue now.

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The local media is now resigned to Bocat’s departure, with VoetbalBelgie reporting last night: “No Eric Eric Bocat training at STVV. That was no coincidence. He did not get away in the winter transfer window – Trabzonspor did not make a higher bid. A transfer now appears to be in the works.”