LEEDS MOVE FOR TEAM-MATE COLLAPSED BUT CLUB LOSE ‘SUBLIME’ £15M ACE TO BURNLEY
Rene Vandereycken, a former manager of Belgium, claims that Genk’s decision to retain Joseph Paintsil from Leeds United helps to make up for the disappointment of losing Mike Tresor to Burnley, a Premier League newbie.
Genk might have had to adjust to life without two players who, together, managed a phenomenal 64 goal contributions in 2022/23 alone, had Leeds United completed an £8.5 million purchase for Joseph Paintsil in the final week of the window.
After believing that Genk had’moved the goalposts’ in the negotiations, Leeds eventually backed out of the Paintsil deal (Sky Sports). Then, as part of a deal that would have seen Paul Onuachu move in the opposite direction, the Ghanaian international declined the opportunity to join Southampton.
While Tresor will be difficult to replace—his 24 assists last season were more than any other player in Europe’s top leagues combined—Vandereycken considers Paintsil to be more ‘irreplaceable’ than Burnley’s deadline-day acquisition due to his higher threat in open play.
Southampton and Leeds miss out on Joseph Paintsil
According to Vandereycken, who assisted Andi Zeqiri on the opening goal against Union Saint Gilloise on Saturday, “I enjoyed the first goal,” he tells Het Belang Van Limburg. Paintsil performed admirably. the appropriate pass made at the appropriate pace and moment.
“It is more important for Genk’s game that Paintsil has stayed than Tresor. The latter was very good in terms of kicking technique. (Tresor’s) crosses and free-kicks were sublime.
“But Paintsil is more threatening. Zeqiri was able to easily score his first goal thanks to Paintsil’s sublime assist.”
According to The Athletic, Tresor could eventually set Burnley back around £15 million should the Clarets opt to turn his loan deal into a permanent transfer in 2024. Paintsil, meanwhile, has no regrets about turning his nose up at a Southampton side who have now conceded nine goals in their last two games, cascading out of the Championship’s play-off places as a result.
‘My heard said no’
”A lot of people, whose opinions I respect, thought I should go. Even my mum told me to opt for a transfer!” Paintsil tells Het Laaste Nieuws. “My godfather said; ‘Joseph, Southampton is a good club. You’re going to kill it there’.
