PSV Eindhoven must try to keep Fabio Silva and Jarrad Branthwaite with the Wolves and Everton loanees impressing away from the Premier League.
So says Aad de Mos; the former PSV, Vitesse Arnhem and Ajax coach delighted to see a pair of Philips Stadium newbies pick up a winners’ medal during last week’s dramatic KNVB Becker final.
Silva slammed home the winning penalty in a tense shoot-out with Ajax.
Branthwaite may not look back on the final with quite so much fondness – his own goal gave John Heitinga’s side the lead in normal time – but he too has made a big impact under Ruud van Nistelrooy this season.
And de Mos believes PSV are facing a ‘major problem’, finding adequate replacements for Branthwaite and Silva easier said than done.
Everton and Wolves youngsters impressing at PSV
“You know what (Branthwaite) is worth to you,” De Mos tells ED. “He can only double his value. I wouldn’t hesitate (to buy him). If you see what Ajax paid for Calvin Bassey (£20 million), you can certainly pay this for him.”
Unfortunately for PSV, things aren’t quite that simple.
According to reports, the Dutch giants failed with a £15 million bid for Branthwaite in January, the Eindhoven Dagblad now reporting that Everton’s asking price is ‘unfeasible’ as far as PSV are concerned.
Keeping Silva may be a little more straightforward.
The former Porto starlet, who joined Wolves for a club record £35 million when he was still a teenager, has already admitted that he would be keen to stay at PSV on a more long-term basis.
“Fabio Silva is an ideal striker, who can still improve”, De Mos adds. “I would absolutely keep him.”
Silva has scored four goals in just five Eredivisie starts under PSV boss and Manchester United legend Van Nistelrooy, admitting that he is delighted to spend his time learning under one of the finest finishers of the 21st century.
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