Transfer Talk: Busan IPark

It's transfer season, but Busan has been (relatively speaking) quite quiet to this point. Adding some younger players and re-filling their foreign quotient. Will there be any other transfer between now and the curtain raiser at Tancheon?
(header photo via busanipark.com)

How active do you think your team will be in the winter window?

I don't expect Busan to be too active as long as they retain most of the core that made up their successful second-half of last season. For the most part that seems to be the case. Players like Lim Sang-hyub, Lee Jung-hyeop, etc are still there. As such most recent of the signings seem to be younger fringe players who will, in all likelihood, fill out thr R League roster. 

What’s your team’s biggest area of need? Who are some potential targets you’d like to see fill those holes?

I think Busan's biggest weakness remains central midfield. The club was not able to adequately replace Joo Se-jong after he left for FC Seoul. Honestly I struggle to really think of a realistic target for this position. Quality central midfielders seem quite rare these days in Korean football. 

Is there someone on the team you’d like to see loaned out or sold?

At this point, not really. Players that disappointed like Stojanovic have already left.

What transfers have already taken place and how do you them playing out in 2017?

The biggest transfer out is certainly Popp going to J2 and joining Avispa Fukuoka. His goals will be missed, but with Lee Jeong-hyeop back at the club, hopefully any difference will be minimal. Lee Jeong-hyeop tends to polarize opinion a bit due to his national team call-ups and Stielike's odd fascination with him, but he should certainly be a serviceable Challenge center forward. Similarly, Lukian joining from Bucheon should hopefully provide a decent second option to provide some cover. 

Who’s an “ideal” signing that would do well in the K-League?

In the fantasy world it's obviously a Messi or Ronaldo. But any quality international striker would do well for the league. Korea. Media loves goal scorer battles like we saw a few years back with Lee Dong-gook and Dejan. Both are getting up there now and it's hard to see them replicating it.