Cercle Brugge has made another important decision after extending Dante Vanzeir's loan. The club will not exercise the purchase option for Pieter Gerkens, leaving the experienced midfielder facing a new challenge. Pieter Gerkens will not play for Cercle Brugge next season. According to Het Nieuwsblad, the club has decided not to activate the purchase option in his loan contract. Furthermore, talks about a longer stay have completely stalled. This means that the 30-year-old midfielder will return to KAA Gent, although it seems that there is no future for him there either. Gerkens still has a contract until the summer of 2027, but both parties would look for a solution. After the news of Dante Vanzeir's return, this is another notable decision by Cercle in the transfer market. Gerkens was born on August 13, 1995, and received his youth training at Racing Genk. His real breakthrough came at STVV, after which he made a transfer to Anderlecht in 2017. At Anderlecht, he had strong moments and played many games at the highest level. Later, he moved to Antwerp, where he won the league title and the Belgian Cup. In 2023, he made the switch to KAA Gent. The Limburger is known as a versatile midfielder who can play both offensively and defensively. Due to his experience, he grew into a regular player in the Jupiler Pro League. Last season, Gerkens was loaned out to Cercle Brugge by Gent. There, he hoped to collect many playing minutes again and give his career a new boost. Although he regularly played, it ultimately proved not enough to convince Cercle of a definitive transfer. The Bruggelingen choose to explore other options and let the purchase option expire. According to Transfermarkt, Gerkens' market value is currently around one million euros. Now that Cercle is dropping out and there is no perspective at Gent either, Gerkens is facing an important summer. With one contract year left, a definitive transfer seems like the most logical solution. Thanks to his experience at Genk, STVV, Anderlecht, Antwerp, Gent, and Cercle, he has a strong track record and an extensive network in Belgian football. This could lead to interested clubs emerging soon.