Brentford record bid for Bakayoko rejected - sources

By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

1st Sep, 2023 | 11:54am

Sources: PSV reject club-record Brentford bid for Bakayoko

Brentford have seen their club-record bid worth £34m for PSV Eindhoven forward Johan Bakayoko turned down, sources have told Football Insider.

PSV are keen to keep hold of Bakayoko following their qualification for the Champions League group stage.

They have rejected Brentford’s offer as they look to keep hold of the in-demand attacker ahead of the 11pm cut-off.

Bakayoko’s current deal in the Netherlands runs until 2026 after he officially moved up from the Under-21s last summer and signed an extension in February this year.

On 29 August, Football Insider revealed that the Dutch club would demand a fee of around £25m for the 20-year-old amid interest from Liverpool.

Premier League newcomers Burnley have already seen two bids rejected for Bakoyoko, their latter offer worth around £17.2m.

Everton and Crystal Palace were also interested in the winger’s services, as revealed by Football Insider (28 August).

The Dutch giants had wanted to hold on to the attacker at least until the end of their Champions League qualification campaign but after a 5-1 win over Rangers on Wednesday (30 August) they secured their place in the group stages.

PSV have been drawn in Group B alongside Sevilla, Arsenal and Lens and are now said to be keen to keep hold of Bakayoko as they look to progress out of the group stages.

The left-footer netted nine goals and offered up six assists in 39 appearances in the 2022-23 campaign and featured for Belgium’s senior side and scored in his first international start against Estonia in June.

In other news, Crystal Palace and Brentford race to sign striker after £8m deal collapses.