Sven Mijnans left out of the squad, AZ coach reacts

Sven Mijnans seems well on his way to PSV. The midfielder from the Alkmaar club has now set his sights on a domestic transfer from Alkmaar to Eindhoven.

And so it seems that AZ's head coach is already lining himself up for a season without his captain. Coach Echteld has no choice but to press ahead by looking ahead to a possible PSV transfer for Mijnans, and that means that Mijnans was left out of the squad on Saturday. A sign of things to come.

Leeroy Echteld was instructed by AZ’s management not to take any risks and as a result, Mijnan was missing from the Alkmaar squad on Saturday afternoon for the friendly match against Belgian KAA Gent.

After the 3-3 draw against the Belgian club, coach Echteld was asked about the recent developments between AZ and PSV. "He was there, but he didn’t play to avoid taking any risks", the AZ coach said in an interview with NH Nieuws.

According to De Telegraaf, the negotiations between PSV and AZ are in a 'advanced stage'. A transfer therefore seems to be a matter of time. PSV is pushing through firmly at the moment. "He is in negotiations and he has had arrangements with the club. The rest, you have to ask Niels", Echteld points to Niels van Duinen, the new technical director of AZ.

Kees Smit wore the captain's armband in the meantime. That was a signal, according to Echteld. "I have a lot of confidence in him and I hope he stays. I don't know what exactly happens behind the scenes", said the head coach of AZ.