PSV Eindhoven coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is not considering letting Philipp Max leave amid interest from Premier League outfit Leeds United, speaking to Voetbal Primeur.
If this was a sign of things to come for PSV under Van Nistelrooy – the legendary striker taking charge of a senior team for the very first time – then 2022/23 will be a season with more twists and turns than an M Night Shyamalan thriller, albeit hopefully with a somewhat happier ending.
A 5-3 victory over rivals Ajax in the Johan Cruyff Shield, a debut hat-trick for Guus Til and a couple of eye-catching performances from a handful of fresh-faced youngsters; The new era started with a bang, a glut of goals and enough drama to fill an EastEnders Chrismas script.
But it was one of the old stagers who found himself the subject of much discussion over the weekend.
Leeds United like PSV left-back Philipp Max
Tuttomercatoweb reported last week that Leeds were looking into a £7 million deal for German international left-back Max, following the latest in a long line of Junior Firpo lay-offs.
According to the Eindhoven Dagblad, however, PSV will not consider any offers for the former Augsburg flyer until late in the window, if at all.
An injury to the versatile Mauro Junior means Max is Van Nistelrooy is already lacking alternatives on the left-hand side. And he is in no mood to leave himself short with the new Eredivisie season just days away.
“I immediately went for it,” says the former Manchester United poacher when asked about his decision to include Max in his XI against Ajax.
“We also knew that Mauro Junior would not just be fit. Then, there is not a hair on my head thinking about letting Max go. And the way he does it (performs), I am very satisfied with that.”
ED add that, even if PSV were willing to let Max go, they would demand far more than £7 million. And it seems unlikely Leeds would rush to invest an eight-figure sum in a 28-year-old full-back. Especially given their preference for younger players boasting substantial re-sale value.
Leeds are also reportedly keen on Stoke City’s Josh Tymon and Genk’s Gerardo Arteaga. Two players who fit the club’s transfer policy a little better.
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