Bought from Mamelodi Sundowns in the summer for just under £3m, Brighton’s Percy Tau was sent to Saint Gilloise just a month later.
The reason for this was the South African international’s inability to secure a work permit in England for the time being, so a loan to the Belgian second tier club was organised.
Scoring six goals and picking up five assists in 18 appearances so far this season, the forward has been one of their key players, and he showed it again against KFCO Beerschot on Sunday.
In fact, he’s been so good that some are scratching their heads as to why no one else came knocking for him.
Former manager Karel Fraeye, speaking to HLN, said: “Tau is way too good for Division 1B. He is undoubtedly the best player in the league. It isn’t for nothing that Saint Gilloise’s sister club Brighton paid €3m for him last summer. It’s only because Tau didn’t immediately get a work permit that he ended up at Union. He shows his class there weekly”.
Whether Tau will be eligible for a work permit when he returns remains to be seen, but if the Seagulls manage to stay up (they should) and he does become eligible, then Chris Hughton might have a choice to make.
Do they give him a chance, or do they wait and see what he can do at a higher level with another loan first?
