PSV’s midfield gap fuels hope for Kodai Sano despite €18m price tag

PSV Eindhoven have identified a clear need to bolster their midfield this summer, a gap left by departing play‑makers and a shift toward a more dynamic central unit. The Nederlandse champions see Japanese midfielder Kodai Sano as a prime candidate to fill that void.

PSV has put a stop to negotiations with NEC over Kodai Sano, yet the club insists the transfer is not definitively off the table. This pause follows a series of talks that have yet to produce a concrete agreement.

According to the Eindhovens Dagblad, the Japanse midfielder remains eager to make the move to the Dutch side. Sano has publicly expressed his desire to join the reigning champions.

The SN Betrouwbaarheidsmeter noted that last weekend the regional paper reported PSV had ended the discussions. The champion club deemed NEC’s asking price, reported at eighteen million euros, ‘unrealistic’ and consequently pulled back from the deal.

NEC eyes Joël Drommel as Sano talks keep goalkeeper in focus

Nevertheless, the door remains ajar. “On the transfer market everything can become fluid again quickly once one of the parties moves,” wrote the ED on Thursday. Sano himself is still open to a switch to PSV and wants to step up to the reigning Dutch champions.

A pivotal role could be played by agent José Fortes Rodriguez, who may act as intermediary to persuade NEC to lower its demand while urging PSV to raise its offer. His involvement is seen as crucial to bridging the financial gap.

The newspaper added that confidence is palpable among all sides that a transfer might still materialise. This optimism keeps the saga alive despite earlier setbacks.

PSV’s summer agenda explicitly calls for midfield reinforcement, and Kodai Sano has long been listed among the top targets. However, NEC’s financial expectations remain the biggest obstacle, meaning the transfer saga has not reached a definitive conclusion.