Sancho's replacement? PSV provide transfer updates on Malen & Dumfries
PSV do not expect Donyell Malen and Denzel Dumfries, two players heavily linked with transfers, to return to the club for the new season.
Head coach Roger Schmidt has provided an update after attacker Malen and full-back Dumfries impressed for Netherlands at Euro 2020.
Borussia Dortmund have long been linked with Malen - who produced extremely impressive numbers last season - and are reportedly set to step up their attempts to sign the 22-year-old now they have agreed to sell Jadon Sancho to Manchester United.
Serie A winners Inter and Premier League side Everton have been heavily linked with Dumfries, who has previously been open about his desire to seek a move abroad.
Schmidt is working under the assumption the star duo will be sold.
But he will re-assess the situation if they remain on PSV’s books in the build-up to their crucial Champions League qualifier against Galatasaray later this month.
“Will I still count on both for the Galatasaray game? We'll see, but I have the expectation that they might not return to De Herdgang [PSV’s training facility],” Schmidt told reporters, per De Telegraaf.
"If they have not made a transfer yet, we will have to look at the situation again.
"But it was already clear before the summer that they might go abroad and I still expect that."
Schmidt was pressed on whether he would use the duo if a transfer had not been completed by that Champions League matchday, with their match to be played on July 20 or 21.
“We will have to look at that, it is still difficult to say and will be the challenge,” he said.
"It will be good to have them there, obviously. Then you have options. But it is also clear that they will not be 100 percent fit for that game.
"We do need all our weapons against Galatasaray. If they are still our players, we will certainly use them, but in a way that makes sense and is understandable."
Impressive seasons for Malen and Dumfries
PSV finished second to Ajax in the Eredivisie last season.
Malen scored 27 goals and added nine assists across 45 appearances (39 starts) in all competitions.
He set up goals against Austria and North Macedonia for his country at Euro 2020, while Dumfries scored against Ukraine and Austria as he saw his transfer stock rise at the tournament.
The flying full-back played 41 times for PSV last season and, in addition to his defensive duties, finished with four goals and eight assists.