Liverpool and PSG target admits he would REJECT €100m transfer

Cameron Smith

3 Sept 2023 17:47 BST
4 min read

PSV Eindhoven star Johan Bakayoko has admitted that he would not have joined Brentford this summer even if they lodged a €100 million bid.

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Bakayoko, 20, attracted interest from across the continent during the summer transfer window, with Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain among the teams keen on landing him.

PSG eventually decided to sign Bradley Barcola from Olympique Lyonnais instead of Bakayoko, while they also landed Randal Kolo Muani on Deadline Day.

Ousmane Dembele, Marco Asensio and Goncalo Ramos (initial loan) also joined Luis Enrique’s side as they moved to replace Lionel Messi and Neymar.

As for Liverpool, they ended up ignoring the right-wing position, with Mohamed Salah looking likely to stay at the club despite interest from Al-Ittihad. A move to Saudi Arabia remains possible, however, as the Saudi Pro League window has not yet shut.

However, with Liverpool and PSG deciding against pushing for Bakayoko, Brentford led the race for his signature. The Bees had previously identified Brennan Johnson as their ideal forward reinforcements, but the Wales international signed for Tottenham Hotspur instead.

PSV wanted €45m for the Belgium international, but Brentford were only willing to go as high as €40m. However, there was a feeling that a deal could be reached before the window shut, according to the Evening Standard.

© Tottenham Hotspur - Brentford target Brennan Johnson signed for Tottenham on Deadline Day

Bakayoko, though, rejected a move to the Londoners, which ended Brentford’s pursuit.

What has Bakayoko said?

Now, Bakayoko has revealed that he had no intention of leaving PSV this window. “Even if they [Brentford] offer €100m… I wanted to stay with PSV,” he told NOS, via Fabrizio Romano.

“We [PSV] want to become champions of the Netherlands again and then go as far as possible in the UCL... that was always my focus.”

The 20-year-old scored five goals and provided five assists in 23 Eredivisie appearances last season. He became a first-team regular when Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke left PSV in January.