The players also understood this well after their historic success on Thursday evening in Heerenveen (0-8) : scenes of jubilation on the pitch with coach Peter Bosz, party in the locker room and big atmosphere on the bus to return to Eindhoven. With Johan Bakayoko, author of a splendid goal for the 0-6, in the role of the ambiance maker… before thinking about the second stage of his dream.
A voucher this summer
Once the title has been confirmed, the winger who has just celebrated his 21st birthday (on April 20) will indeed be able to open discussions around his future. Initially with his club. The management of PSV obviously dreams of keeping its jewel which is under contract until 2026. But it is also realistic. The player who has 13 goals and 14 assists this season has now completed his Dutch adventure which began in 2019.
Even though he had the opportunity to show himself in the Champions League and could still do so next season by staying, Johan Bakayoko has arrived at a stage in his career which requires a new challenge to continue his progression. For example, we have often noticed that most of his teammates were no longer capable of offering him the balls he requires in his races to make the most of his qualities. And PSV is well aware of this. “Will he stay? I do not think sotechnical director Earnie Stewart already admitted in February. What Johan is doing at his age is fantastic.”
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40 to 50 million euros
But to go where? The first question to ask first concerns the amount that will be claimed by PSV. At the very end of the 2023 summer transfer window, Brentford offered 35 million euros and 5 million in bonuses. Taking into account this element and the superb season that the Red Devil is having, the Dutch leaders will be even more greedy. They will probably try to break the record for the most expensive outgoing transfer in the club's history: Hirving Lozano for 45 million euros to Naples in 2019.
The problem is that the transfer market will not do PSV any favors. The big clubs looking for a talented right winger and who have such a sum to invest are in reality very few. We can therefore proceed by elimination to find a potential destination for it.
Germany on pole
In Spain, only Real Madrid could issue such a check but the player needs to grow further before potentially one day joining the shortlist of such a club. Barça, plagued by financial problems, would be ready to spend only on more experienced players. Same observation in Italy where it would be very difficult for all the big clubs to raise 40 million euros. Naples, which was interested last summer, is in difficulty in the league (8th) and will not play in the next Champions League. However, this is an important criterion in the future choice of the player.
PSG also made serious inquiries previously. But the French club ultimately turned to Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola to strengthen their wings. According to our information, Paris was in any case not the favorite destination of Johan Bakayoko who rather sees himself continuing his career in England or Germany. And that's good, that's where the only credible contenders are to date.
On the one hand, Liverpool will have to invest in a winger to compensate for the potential departure of Mohamed Salah this summer. On the other, Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig and Bayern Munich, all three of whom are looking for such a profile to strengthen themselves. Still according to our information, these three German clubs are already in contact with the player's entourage who would like to complete the transfer before the Euro to move forward with peace of mind.
The reality, however, remains different and we risk seeing a fight between three or four clubs for the Red Devil, which in any case has a profile that would match well with German football.
