Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 9:13 PM• Rian Rosendaal

Ruud van Nistelrooij has been impressed by Ibrahim Sangaré in his first six months as PSV trainer. According to the coach in Eindhoven service, the midfielder is ready for the step towards the Premier League. The controller, already linked to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, can join PSV this summer for a fixed amount of 37.5 million euros, although interested clubs must then report to Eindhoven before a certain date.

“For me it is not a question whether Ibrahim can handle the Premier League,” Van Nistelrooij emphasizes in an interview with Football International. “Obviously he can handle it. But I have taken on a kind of challenge with him because I think Ibrahim can go to the top in England.” Other top competitions are not excluded in advance, according to the PSV coach. “It would also be great in Italy or Spain. Because I now see players playing in his position there who I think: Ibrahim is definitely going to make a shot at that level.”

Ruud van Nistelrooij thinks Ibrahim Sangaré is good enough for the Premier League.

Hedwiges Maduro shares Van Nistelrooij’s opinion. “It sounds crazy, but in the Premier League he comes into his own better than here. If the spaces are small, then he gets into the duels more and better and he can conquer balls. Then Sangaré comes into his power. In that power football of the Premier League, he fits well.” The analyst does not expect that Sangaré will end up in the absolute top of England. “I think he will end up just below the top, because top clubs such as Manchester City and Liverpool demand even higher handling speed from the ball.”

Arnold Bruggink thinks the midfielder is a great addition to ‘everything under the top six in England’. “Sangaré is ready for the step up, but not yet for the absolute top. Maybe he needs an intermediate step.” The former PSV player does not see the inspector as a typical number 6. “He is less good at monitoring the organization. He really has to improve that and that starts with communication. After almost three years he should speak English. But he does not steer the team as a result and his interest does not seem to be there,” said Bruggink, who suspects that Sangaré’s introverted character may have something to do with this.