Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow hasn’t yet been able to secure a move to England despite being linked to Manchester United and Southampton.
The 26-year-old came close to joining Southampton towards the end of August. The deal didn’t take shape due to medical concern over his wrist after injuries and disagreement over subsequent treatment.
Last month, Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese said Bijlow failed to clear his medical at Southampton. The Saints ended the window by adding Aaron Ramsdale to their squad late in the month.
In 2023, Manchester United were pushed forward as an option for Bijlow. They were in the market for a new stopper after letting David de Gea leave as a free agent. In July 2023, journalist Chris Woerts said the Dutchman had held talks with the Red Devils.
Woerts has now told Vandaag Inside, relayed by Feyenoord Pings, he jumped the gun a year ago, when saying that Bijlow was set to join Manchester United. He’s pinned the blame on the goalkeeper’s agent, Ali Dursun.
“Some informants aren’t that reliable. I got a call from Justin’s agent Ali Dursun before the broadcast. ‘You can say it tonight: Justin is going to Manchester United’. I reported it as an established fact with a bit of bravado,” he said.
“I should have said: ‘I got a call from Ali Dursun this afternoon, who told me that Justin is going to Manchester United’. But in the end the transfer did not go through.”
Like Southampton, Manchester United may have backed out of the deal due to concerns over Bijlow’s wrist injuries. Erik ten Hag’s side ended up signing two goalkeepers, André Onana and Altay Bayındır in the summer of 2023.
