Anderlecht is reportedly closing in on a deal for Mihajlo Ilić, a 22-year-old Serbian defender from Bologna, on an initial loan that includes a purchase option, as they work against the transfer deadline. The Belgian side appears to have overcome competition from both Partizan and Bari to secure the player. Ilić was on loan last season at Partizan, the very club that transferred him to Bologna 18 months ago for a fee of nearly five million euros. According to La Dernière Heure, Bologna does not believe the defender is prepared for Serie A, and Ilić has given his consent for the transfer to Anderlecht. Het Laatste Nieuws suggests the signing is a proactive move ahead of Jan-Carlo Simic's potential departure in January. The player's contract with the Italian team runs until June 30, 2028, and his market valuation is listed by Transfermarkt at €3.50 million.