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‘Right decision’: £9m man explains why he rejected Fulham this summer

Scott Parker, manager of Fulham looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Reading at Craven Cottage on January 01, 2020 in ...
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Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images

Timo Baumgartl is convinced that he made the right decision turning down a move to Fulham in order to fight for his stay at PSV Eindhoven, as he told Fox Sports.

The Premier League might be a fair few rungs above the Eredivisie in the footballing ladder, but perhaps the giant German would rather challenge for silverware in a lesser European division than scrap for survival as a small fish in the biggest of ponds.

The £9 million Baumgartl was on the verge of joining Scott Parker’s Fulham on the final day of the summer window before the deal collapsed at the eleventh hour.

According to ED, the former Stuttgart youngster felt that sporting success would be easier to come by at a PSV side who are expected to challenge for the title under the gegenpressing specialist Roger Schmidt at the Phillips Stadium.

And, a week later, Baumgartl has finally explained his stance.

“I told the club that I would fly to London one day to watch (Fulham),” he said.

Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images

“(But) if you see the differences between PSV and Fulham, this was the right decision for me.

“The club did a lot to bring me to Fulham, but if the feeling is not right. I am not ready to leave PSV yet. I want to achieve something here.”

Fulham can at least console themselves with the deadline day arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen from Manchester City and Lyon respectively, while Terence Kongolo could also join before Friday.

Tosin Adarabioyo of Man City argues with the official during the FA Youth Cup semi-final second leg match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on April 4, 2016 in London,… (Julian Finney/Getty Images)