Former PSV Eindhoven ace Arnold Bruggink admits he can imagine Ibrahim Sangare joining Premier League strugglers Newcastle United from the Eredivisie leaders, speaking to Voetbal International.
Last season, PSV finished 16 points behind reigning Dutch champions Ajax.
They were fourth when the 2019/20 Eredivisie campaign was curtailed due to COVID-19. The year before that, PSV missed out on the title by just three measly points.
So with Ajax looking slightly more vulnerable this time around – a chink appearing in Erik Ten Hag’s armour – PSV have been presented with a golden opportunity to re-claim their place at the top of the domestic tree.
Their hopes of a first league crown since 2018 will not be aided, however, by selling their most influential, box-to-box midfielder in the winter window.
The Mail reported earlier this week that Newcastle have set their sights on Sangare, an ‘unstoppable’ express train of a footballer who continues to from strength to strength under Roger Schmidt, improving his passing range and adding goals to his game.
Could Newcastle lure Ibrahim Sangare away from PSV?
“It doesn’t surprise me that they (Newcastle) think of him,” says Bruggink, a former Netherlands international who won three Eredivisie titles at PSV between 2000 and 2003.
“I can see him going to England. He is an international from Ivory Coast, he has the physical capabilities and the money is also in England. He could go to England.”
Bruggink feels that it would take a bid in the region of ‘£25 or £30 million’ to convince PSV to part with a man who rejected Southampton before heading to Holland.
But, as Bruggink points out, PSV are under no pressure to cash in on Sangare now.
Should the Ivorian carry Schmidt’s in-form side to domestic glory, there will be plenty of suitors willing to fork over big fees.
“I would put the sporting aspect first. This is (PSV’s) best chance to become a champion, to achieve success. If he continues to play like this, you assume that a transfer in the summer should also work,” Bruggink adds.
“In addition, you also have to get a direct replacement, in the winter. I wouldn’t recommend it myself. Newcastle are near the bottom. For the same money, you can play Championship next season.”
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