Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese has hinted that Southampton may have pulled out of a deal for Justin Bijlow because Aaron Ramsdale suddenly became available.
Te Kloese has been speaking to ESPN about the summer transfer drama around the player and his suspicions there was more to the failed medical than meets the eye.
Bijlow appeared to be on the verge of joining Southampton, with a deal agreed between the two clubs and the goalkeeper travelling for a medical after saying goodbye to the Dutch side.
All was proceeding as normal before it came crashing down, with Bijlow going public to explain that Southampton had cancelled the transfer after a disagreement during his medical.
It seems they were left unhappy by the goalkeeper’s previous treatment for injuries, with it later explained in the Netherlands that two previous wrist injuries were the focus of the concern.
The deal was cancelled and Bijlow remained at Feyenoord, where he will have to content himself at being number two this season.
He, and everyone else at the Dutch club, were left very frustrated by the cancellation and the falling out with Southampton and Te Kloese has now hinted there may have been some gamesmanship involved from the Saints.
“It is quite a coincidence that five minutes after they informed us that he did not pass the medical examination, a club actually already had Aaron Ramsdale ready for €25m and offered him a five-year contract,” he said.
“I don’t think you can do that within five minutes. I’m secretly a bit happy that he’s back.”
