As we all know, every transfer negotiation is a gamble and for Borussia Monchengladbach, the decision to reject a €35m bid from Newcastle United for midfielder Manu Koné is one that didn’t work out for them.
That’s according to Sport BILD, who cover the player today and explain how the failure to sell him at the right time has left the club with no money for transfers this summer.
They explain that the financial difficulties at Gladbach are becoming more acute, with a previous spending spree not supported by the required sales.
They need income to help fund further purchases but have failed to sell the players they want to and Koné is the prime example.
He was once the great hope and had been expected to bring in a big sum, with Newcastle offering €35m in 2022.
That was rejected by Gladbach, who ‘gambled’ that the player would continue his impressive rise, develop further and bring in ‘even more money’ down the line.
Instead his transfer value fell away due to a knee injury and the club are now willing to negotiate requests of €10-15m instead.
The hope is that figure can be improved upon by allowing the midfielder to compete at the Olympics with France, a stage on which he could shine and earn admirers. Even then, though, the likelihood of hitting that €35m figure again seems unlikely.
The regret at rejecting that Newcastle United bid is now clear, with the gamble having failed miserably for those in charge at the German club.
