“He insinuates that er binnen de club nog mensen zijn waar hij een beetje kwaad op is in verband met die gemiste transfer,” Koen Van Uytvange said of AA Gent striker Max Dean during an appearance on the podcast Sjotcast.

The failed transfer of forward Max Dean to English League One club Bolton Wanderers has left lingering friction at KAA Gent, according to club watcher Koen Van Uytvange speaking on the Sjotcast podcast. The 22-year-old English striker saw a deadline-day move to Bolton collapse, though reporting suggests financial constraints on the English side ultimately scuttled the deal despite official claims regarding medical tests.

Bolton Wanderers Deal and Medical Tests

On the final day of the English transfer window, Dean traveled to undergo medical evaluations with Bolton Wanderers. The English club had agreed to a fee of 2,5 miljoen euro plus een half miljoen euro in add-ons, alongside an unusual 30-percent sell-on clause on the total future transfer fee rather than just the capital gain, according to Van Uytvange. Despite KAA Gent’s willingness to structure the agreement, the transfer stalled when Bolton withdrew from the deal, publicly citing the results of the player’s medical exams.

Rik De Mil and Squad Rotation

The fallout from the botched transfer spilled onto the pitch during a recent Croky Cup fixture against third-tier side Rochefort. Max Dean was handed his first start since his return to availability following the collapsed move, but failed to capitalize on the opportunity to impress the coaching staff.

Integration Back Into the Gent Squad

Despite the lingering tension surrounding the failed move to England, De Mil retains a valuable attacking option in Dean, particularly given Josué Vergare’s current injury absence. Although Dean was not included in the club’s European squad list, he can serve as a domestic joker. Last week, the forward made an immediate impact as a substitute against Zulte Waregem, providing an assist in his first appearance since the transfer window closed.