Bayern Munich strike agreement for PSV's Ismael Saibari in deal worth around 53m euros
The Bundesliga champions have agreed personal terms with the Morocco international and have a package on the table for the reigning Eredivisie Player of the Year.
Bayern Munich have reached a verbal agreement with PSV Eindhoven to sign Ismael Saibari, moving the Bundesliga champions to the brink of one of their first major pieces of summer business.
Reports indicate Bayern have also settled personal terms with the 24-year-old on a five-year contract, with Saibari set to fly to the United States in the coming days to complete his medical. The total package being discussed is understood to be in the region of 53m euros, made up of a fixed fee close to 48m euros plus a further 5m euros in performance-related add-ons.
It is a striking sum for a player who arrived in Eindhoven with little fanfare, and it reflects just how far Saibari has come. The Morocco international was the standout name in the Eredivisie last season, scoring 15 goals and laying on eight assists in 27 appearances as PSV claimed a third consecutive league title. That return earned him the division's Player of the Year award.
Bayern had spent much of the early window weighing up alternatives on the left side of their attack. They held a long-standing interest in Anthony Gordon before the England forward chose Barcelona, and only then did the German champions pivot decisively towards Saibari.
On paper, he fits the profile Vincent Kompany's recruitment team has favoured: direct, fearless in possession and comfortable across the front line. Saibari ranked first in the Eredivisie for total shots and third for shots on target per game last season, numbers that speak to a forward who backs himself to hurt opponents rather than simply circulate the ball. His dribbling lets him wriggle into shooting positions, and his versatility, able to operate anywhere across the front three or drop into midfield, only adds to the appeal.
The obvious question is where he slots in. Bayern's preferred attacking trident of Michael Olise, Luis Diaz and Harry Kane is well established, and Saibari would arrive knowing minutes will have to be earned rather than handed over. For a side chasing trophies on multiple fronts, though, squad depth of that quality is no bad thing, and his ability to play several roles makes him a useful option rather than a luxury one.
Bayern are not expected to stop there. A deal for Germany left-back Nathaniel Brown is also said to be close, suggesting the champions intend to refresh their squad early rather than leave their business until the closing weeks of the window.
From a Moroccan perspective, the timing is significant. A move to one of Europe's elite clubs on the eve of a World Cup summer would cap a remarkable rise for Saibari, and there will be plenty back home hoping the medical passes without a hitch. Until pen meets paper, a degree of caution is sensible, but every signal points towards this one crossing the line.