PSV formally canceled the expiring contract of Ryan Thomas and Eran Zahavi at the end of April, it knows Eindhovens Dagblad† The people of Eindhoven thus seem to be taking an advance on a transfer-free farewell to the duo, although there is ‘perhaps still a hook’ for the badly injured Thomas to still sign. High earner Zahavi could only stay on a heavily reduced salary, but that is unlikely.
Thomas has brought too little to the Philips Stadium for his purchase amount of almost three million euros, which was transferred to PEC Zwolle in 2018. The 27-year-old New Zealander had been very unlucky in the past four years with serious injuries: shortly after his arrival, the midfielder tore his cruciate ligament and then suffered a serious ankle injury. Thomas is currently on his way back from another knee injury, which he sustained in late October. In total he came to 48 matches in the shirt of PSV, in which he was good for 4 goals and 7 assists.
PSV is also sorting ahead for Zahavi’s departure. To get the 34-year-old Israeli from China two years ago, the people of Eindhoven pulled off a trick: Zahavi collected no less than six million euros in two seasons (as appeared earlier from leaked documents from FIFA), of which four million euros was paid as sign premium. On paper, Zahavi therefore earns one million euros per season, but PSV does not want to continue with that amount. The routine performed with 35 goals and 15 assists in 76 matches and could stay for a greatly reduced annual salary, but nobody in Eindhoven seems to assume that.
The search for a new striker has already started. A name that is inextricably linked with PSV is Luuk de Jong, it reported Eindhovens Dagblad recently. The Barcelona striker, who is rented from Sevilla, does not have to count on many playing minutes under Xavi and can once again become the figurehead of the club in Eindhoven. Other names mentioned by the regional newspaper are Wout Weghorst, Sam Lammers (leased by Atalanta to Eintracht Frankfurt) and Joshua Zirkzee. However, Weghorst earns a considerable salary from Burnley, while Lammers left PSV with some disagreement and for that reason does not seem a logical choice. Zirkzee has a contract with Bayern Munich, which now leases the youngster to Anderlecht, that only lasts one year and seems to be a real option.