It is virtually impossible that Riechedly Bazoer will leave Vitesse this winter. The center defender is fencing with interest from PSV, Feyenoord, Benfica and Sporting Portugal, but the Arnhem team does not seem to want to let their tastemaker go. Trainer Thomas Letsch also hopes to be able to have Bazoer in the new year, as the club from Gelderland is still fighting on several fronts.
Bazoer was already close to a transfer to Olympique Marseille last summer, but had to see how then technical director Johannes Spors blocked a transfer. The French club reportedly did not want to go further than four million euros. It does not seem to come to a transfer this winter either, which means that Bazoer will leave Vitesse for free next summer. According to the Gelderlander the current number four in the Eredivisie accepts that. Vitesse is very interested in performing this season in the Eredivisie, Conference League and the TOTO KNVB Cup.
“Riechedly is tapping a very high level,” quotes the above-mentioned daily newspaper from Letsch at the training camp in Portugal. “We want to start the new year with the entire core. I don’t just hope that Riechedly stays, I assume he stays.” The club therefore excludes a winter departure. Due to his expiring contract, Bazoer is allowed to talk to other clubs as of January 1. A transfer-free step would in any case be more favorable for Bazoer from a financial point of view, since in that case he will receive signing money. The clubs that are interested are also very likely to have a million-dollar contract ready for the playmaker. That is not the case with Vitesse.
According to the Gelderlander Bazoer has a price tag of more than two million euros hanging around his neck. Transfermarkt estimates the value of the central defender at 4.5 million euros. Where Bazoer made an impatient impression last summer, he now seems to have resigned himself to serving his contract. The six-time international of the Dutch national team believes that the interest of PSV, Feyenoord, Benfica and Sporting Portugal will not weaken in the coming months. An agreement may already be reached this winter, but it is almost certain that Bazoer will finish the season in Arnhem.
Football International and Feyenoord Transfermarkt were able to report on Tuesday evening that Feyenoord has officially reported to Vitesse for Bazoer. The team from Rotterdam had initially bet on the arrival of Joey Veerman, but the sc Heerenveen midfielder left for PSV. The people of Eindhoven are provisionally provided for, which means that Feyenoord has free rein this month. Frank Arnesen wants to add an extra midfielder to Feyenoord’s selection at any cost and has repeatedly inquired about the availability of Bazoer on Tuesday. The technical director of the Rotterdammers knows that Bazoer is open to a step higher, but there is therefore considerable competition.
Bazoer therefore also screens with foreign interest, but also sees a return to the Dutch top. The 25-year-old defender annex midfielder had a stormy breakthrough in top football at Ajax, but eventually left the Amsterdam club through the back door. After less successful adventures at VfL Wolfsburg and FC Porto, Bazoer returned to FC Utrecht on a rental basis in 2019. He has been playing for Vitesse since the summer of that year, where he grew into the best player. In total he stands on 85 duels for the Arnhem team, in which he produced 9 goals and 5 assists.