For several weeks now, attention in Poland has been focused on Bogdanka LUK Lublin, a club that found itself in a delicate situation before the start of the new season in the PlusLiga volleyball league. After Polish outside hitterMikołaj Sawickiwas suspended due to a positive doping test, the team's management is forced to urgently find a replacement. This sharply narrowed the time for maneuvers and presented coach Stéphane Antiga with a challenge that could redefine the team's goals for the new campaign.

Martin Atanasov and the options for LUK Lublin

In his analysis, Polish journalistJakub Balcerzakconsiders various possible options for the outside hitter position in Lublin. Among the names mentioned is that ofMartin Atanasov— a Bulgarian national and current player forGalatasaray, who impressed in the Turkish league last season. Although, according to Balcerzak, the Bulgarian seems “the most realistic” among the group of foreign candidates (along with Uroš Kovačević and Ignacio Luengas), no specific negotiations have been confirmed at this stage. Nevertheless, the fact that Atanasov’s name is among those discussed suggests that Lublin does not rule out a serious international option.
Speculation around Atanasov is further fueled after it became clear that Galatasaray had signed a new player for the Bulgarian's position in the person of American Thomas Jaeschke.

Bulgarian axis in Lublin: Alex Grozdanov is already there

An interesting aspect in this case is the presence ofAlex Grozdanov, captain of the Bulgarian national team, who has been part of Bogdanka LUK Lublin since last season. The middle blocker has established himself as an important figure in the squad, and this undoubtedly facilitates the adaptation of a potential Bulgarian teammate like Atanasov. In the Lublin locker room, they are well acquainted with Grozdanov’s work ethic and character, and such a partnership could prove to be a decisive trump card in building a stable axis in the team.

Antiga and the delicate balance

The task facingStéphane Antigais becoming increasingly complex, as the transfer market in Europe “cleared out” quite early this summer. Every passing day without a new outside hitter reduces the options, and the time for cohesion before the start of the PlusLiga is getting shorter. Against this backdrop, the choice of whether to rely on a proven foreign name who can help immediately (like Atanasov) or to seek a more modest option with future prospects will be crucial for LUK's image in the next season.

Conclusion:
In Lublin, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation whether the management will play it safe and try to attract an already proven player from European fields, or will seek surprising solutions? In both cases, the Bulgarian trace in the person of Grozdanov, and potentially Atanasov could be the key to the ambitions of Bogdanka LUK Lublin in the Polish elite.