Geertruida passes PSV medical, but deal is still not done: this is what is going on
Lutsharel Geertruida's move to PSV took another step forward on Thursday, but the deal is still not completely done. The 26-year-old defender has now come through his medical in Eindhoven, yet PSV are still strangely waiting for the final approval from RB Leipzig.
According to transfer market expert Mounir Boualin, Leipzig's supervisory board still need to give the final sign-off on the agreement. Why that approval has not yet arrived is unclear, although the definitive green light could now follow quickly.
Geertruida travelled to the Netherlands on Tuesday evening ahead of his medical and the completion of his temporary move. The tests were initially scheduled for Wednesday morning, but did not go ahead because Leipzig had not yet given definitive permission.
PSV and Leipzig still had one issue to resolve and that had not been fully settled by Thursday afternoon. Even so, Geertruida was given permission later on Thursday to complete his medical, taking an important practical step towards the move.
On Tuesday, PSV and Leipzig already reached an agreement in principle over a one-season loan with an option to buy. The Eindhoven club would reportedly spend around €6 million in total for the loan period, allowing Leipzig to remove Geertruida's full salary from their wage bill for next season.
That option to buy would be around €13 million, but PSV are unlikely to simply trigger it at the end of the season. The combination of the transfer fee and the salary of the former Feyenoord player would put considerable strain on the financial possibilities of the reigning champions, De Telegraaf reports.
Geertruida is the man PSV want to fill the gap created by Jerdy Schouten's serious knee injury. The club's technical leadership believe he suits coach Peter Bosz's football because he is comfortable on the ball, can defend with plenty of space behind him and is strong in duels.
Earlier, Geertruida drew interest from several countries, while Feyenoord and Ajax also enquired about his situation, but the Netherlands international preferred PSV.
