PSV Eindhoven called off talks to sign Davinson Sanchez from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur because they were not convinced the now-Galatasaray defender wanted to join.
His loss, meanwhile, is Armel Bella-Kotchap’s gain.
Ten points clear at the top of the Eredivisie table after winning 16 out of 16 in the Netherlands, Bella-Kotchap’s PSV Eindhoven side already feel like champions-elect. Davinson Sanchez could have been along for the ride instead, only for the former Tottenham Hotspur defender to leave PSV rather cold during discussions over a potential summer switch to the Netherlands.
PSV called off Tottenham Hotspur deal
“Sanchez was the only one who gave us the feeling that he didn’t really want to go,” Marcel Brands, the club’s general director, tells Voetbal International, explaining why Bella-Kotchap ended up arriving from Southampton.
“In terms of his salary, it seemed feasible. But all the other players we talked to quickly made it clear to their then-club that they wanted to go to PSV.
“Things were different with Sanchez. That’s why we decided not to continue with that and loan Armel Bella-Kotchap.”
Sanchez, who once joined Spurs from Ajax for a club-record £42.5 million, eventually moved to Galatasaray at the end of the window. The Colombia international, who was also in the crosshairs of Spartak Moscow in Russia, set the Turkish giants back around £13 million.
He has impressed in Turkey, too. At least, more so than Tanguy Ndombele, the much-maligned midfielder already out of favour in Istanbul.
Colombian now in Turkey
“In order to increase (our budget), we had to qualify for the Champions League,” Galatasaray’s deputy chairman Erdun Timur tells Fanatik, his side securing a group-stage spot before taking four points off Manchester United.
“We had to keep the players waiting until that money arrived. If we had not qualified for the Champions League, we would not have been able to complete the signings of Davinson Sanchez and Ndombele.
“We had to control our manoeuvres until then.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
