Heracles general manager Nico-Jan Hoogma has revealed how the club missed out on a bid to sign Derby County midfielder Kenzo Goudmijn.
Goudmijn sealed a move to Go Ahead Eagles on deadline day in the Netherlands after the Rams granted his exit from Pride Park.
With first-team chances limited, Goudmijn opted to return to his homeland just over a year after he joined the club from AZ Alkmaar.
The 23-year-old opted to sign for Eagles but that was after Heracles had made an attempt to convince him to join the Eriedivisie club, according to Hoogma.
“On the penultimate day of the window, Kenzo Goudmijn’s agent called to say Derby County wanted to sign the player elsewhere,” he said.
“I immediately thought: If Goudmijn wants to go to Heracles, we’re going to make it happen.
“Goudmijn could then replace the injured Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, and Ajdin Hrustic could return to playing right back.
“That would give us the same picture we initially envisioned. We put in a bid for Goudmijn and thought we had a serious chance, but in the end, the player and his team opted for Go Ahead Eagles.”
