Former Feyenoord technical director Dennis te Kloese has revealed that Bayern Munich were in advanced negotiations to sign defender Givairo Read last winter, only for the deal to collapse following two injury setbacks. The Dutch official disclosed that the German side were prepared to pay around €25 million for the full-back, with several other clubs also submitting similar offers.
Te Kloese, who was actively working on the transfer before the winter break last year, explained that the agreement would have seen Read remain at Feyenoord for six months before completing the move to Bayern in the summer. However, the player’s fitness issues forced the Bavarian club to reconsider.
Injuries derailed Bayern switch
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Te Kloese stated: “Before the winter break last year, I was actively working on a transfer for Read to Bayern Munich.” He confirmed that rival clubs had also entered the race with bids “around the €25million mark, with some going slightly higher.”
The plan involved Read staying at Feyenoord for an additional half-season before relocating to Germany. “But then Givairo suffered two injuries. That ultimately put a stop to the deal,” Te Kloese explained.
The former director believes the setbacks cost the defender a major career move. “I think that a year ago it was quite realistic that he would have joined a big club like Bayern Munich or one of the top clubs in England,” he said. “But those clubs adopted a wait-and-see approach after he got injured. They wanted to see whether he could regain full fitness; return to his best level. Otherwise, I think we would have reached an agreement with Bayern, because the interest was very concrete.”
Forest eyeing move
With Read now recovered, Nottingham Forest have emerged as potential suitors. Te Kloese suggests the Premier League side are attempting to secure the player’s signature before larger clubs re-enter the fray.
“I think Nottingham Forest now want to steal a march on the market and snatch Read away before one of the big clubs can sign him,” Te Kloese added.
The revelation explains why Read remained at Feyenoord despite significant interest from elite European clubs. Whether Forest can finalize a deal remains to be seen, though the defender’s availability appears to have attracted renewed attention following his return to fitness.