Data journalist gives PSV transfer advice: “May possibly provide a solution”
1 min readIt will not have escaped anyone’s notice that left back Anass Salah-Eddine has returned to AS Roma after his loan spell at PSV. Despite multiple offers, PSV has not managed to persuade the left back to opt for a longer stay in Eindhoven.
Because of this, PSV must look for a new left-back for the 2026/2027 season. Data journalist Willem Leijgraf from the outlet FootballTransfers believes that defender Mitchell Bakker is a good option for PSV.
In addition, Leijgraf draws a comparison between Salah-Eddine and Bakker. ''According to the data from SciSports, it may be possible for Mitchel Bakker to offer a solution in this search. This is also because the Dutchman, in his last full season (with Lille OSC in 2024/25), was characterized in a similar way to Anass Salah-Eddine in the left-back position'', the data journalist writes on the website of FootballTransfers.
Offensively, Bakker has better statistics according to the data. "Bakker also provided more assists that season than Salah-Eddine did last season, and also more accurately. In addition, he asserted himself more in an attacking sense with passes into the final third, dribbles, and overlapping runs," continues Leijgraf.
On the defensive side, the advantage again lies in favor of Salah-Eddine. ''Salah-Eddine, however, recorded on average more overlapping run actions and was also more active on the defensive front with ball recoveries, whereas Bakker, in turn, managed on average to get more counters out of it'', the journalist writes.
Bakker has a contract with Italian club Atalanta Bergamo until mid-2027. However, at the Italians the left back no longer seems to have a future, making a move a serious option.
''Bakker currently represents an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of 2.4 million euros and, together with his Skill of 66.7, is therefore an interesting option for clubs that still need a left back'', concludes Leijgraf.
The Italian Tuttomercatoweb, also known as TMW, reports that the Dutch defender, however, is on his way to Scotland. Champions Celtic would in fact be closely monitoring Bakker's situation, and the Scots are the most concrete among all the interested clubs.
Comments6
tbh de vergelijking met Salah-Eddine is wel interessant. Bakker zou aanvallend meer brengen (voorzetten, passes final third), maar defensief dan toch weer minder actieve balveroveringen. als PSV die counters verkiest boven onderlap dan oké, anders moet je oppassen.
Leijgraf vergelijkt de profielen en dat klopt wel: Bakker meer final third acties, Salah-Eddine meer balveroveringen en onderlappende runs. Alleen vraag ik me af of PSV met Bakker hetzelfde defensieve ritme kan halen, want tegen teams die omschakelen gaat het verschil voelen.
Mitchell Bakker voor 2026/27 klinkt oké, ETV 2,4m is niet eens gek. Maar als Celtic hem al bijna rond heeft, dan moet PSV wel snel zijn... 👀
Data zegt aanvallend beter, verdedigend lijkt Salah-Eddine weer net actiever. Tbh ik wil gewoon zien wie onder druk als eerste de duels wint, cijfers zijn leuk maar PSV heeft ook discipline nodig 2 in 1.
Bakker als oplossing klinkt logisch, vooral met die 2,4 miljoen ETV. Maar als Tuttomercatoweb zegt dat Celtic hem op de radar heeft, dan is dit echt een race tegen de klok. 🔥
Als Salah-Eddine terug is naar Roma dan snap ik dat PSV echt moet schakelen linksback. Bakker klinkt wel als een logische middenweg, maar Celtic ruikt natuurlijk ook een kans...