Thelo Aasgaard was reportedly not Anderlecht's first choice when the Belgian club moved for the Rangers midfielder on loan on transfer deadline day.
According to Swedish outlet Expressen, Anderlecht had identified Djurgarden playmaker Bo Hegland as their preferred target, but the Norwegian turned down the opportunity to move to Belgium. The report claims that, after Hegland rejected Anderlecht, the club turned their attention to Aasgaard and brought him in from Rangers.
Aasgaard joined Anderlecht on loan from Rangers on a season-long deal with a £6 million reported option-to-buy, with the move giving him an opportunity to continue his development in Belgium after helping Rangers through the opening stages of the season.
However, his start to life at the Lotto Park has been mixed.
Aasgaard's early Anderlecht struggles
The 24-year-old made his Anderlecht debut from the bench against Mechelen, coming on for the final 18 minutes of a 1-0 victory.
Before that game, manager Vitor Bruno had indicated that Aasgaard was still getting to grips with Anderlecht's system. Belgian outlet La DH reported that Bruno viewed the Rangers loanee as one of the players who still needed to assimilate his tactical demands.
Aasgaard was subsequently handed his first start against Lyon in the Europa League on Wednesday night, despite his manager’s concerns.
That came despite suggestions before the match that he would not be included from the beginning.
Aasgaard was named in the starting XI as Anderlecht hosted the French side, taking up a position in the front three. The Rangers loanee therefore made his first start for the Belgian club just days after making his debut.
However, it proved to be a difficult evening for Anderlecht, however, as Lyon secured a 2-1 victory.
Aasgaard did not make the desired impact during his first start. Belgian outlet Walfoot noted that he, alongside fellow new starter Romeo Amane, struggled to convince, with Aasgaard offering little offensively and frequently dropping deep.
The Norwegian did have one notable contribution during the match, providing a good pass for Ali Maamar's blocked effort during the first half.
His performance comes after a frustrating beginning to his loan spell. Aasgaard was not involved against Genk after serving a suspension, while his first league appearance came as a late substitute against Mechelen.
La DH's assessment of his brief appearance against Mechelen was also critical, noting that there were flashes of quality but considerable wastefulness.
The circumstances surrounding his move now add another layer to the early stages of his Anderlecht spell.
Not the top target
Expressen's report states that Hegland was viewed as Anderlecht's “first choice", with Aasgaard subsequently selected after the Djurgarden player rejected the move.
Hegland has enjoyed an outstanding campaign in Sweden, with Expressen reporting that he had reached 15 assists in the Allsvenskan, matching the league's assist record, while also scoring eight goals.
The focus for Aasgaard has to be on establishing himself in Bruno's side rather than the circumstances behind his arrival.
The Rangers midfielder has already been given his first start, and Wednesday's game against Lyon represented a significant step in his bid to earn a regular role.
But after a difficult introduction to Belgian football, Aasgaard will now have to demonstrate that he can become an important part of the Anderlecht side during his season-long loan from Ibrox.
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