Highly sought-after Mexico star Hirving Lozano has raised injury alarms for PSV Eindhoven and clubs interested in signing him after he was stretchered off during the club’s 2-1 win over Groningen in a Dutch Eredivisie clash on Saturday. The Mexican played less than 45 minutes of PSV’s league match against FC Groningen, although he still managed to find the target twice. Lozano scored his two goals early on in the match but was then withdrawn from the action in some pain before the half-time whistle.
Lozano had clashed heads with Groningen’s Tim Handwerker and was unable to continue, with PSV taking the 23-year-old to hospital in order to rule out the possibility of serious damage. “They are checking him in the hospital, it was a hard hit and right now I can’t give any more information,” PSV manager Mark Van Bommel told reporters after the final whistle. “It did not look good. I do not know exactly what the diagnosis is. They are looking at it now.”
Prior to his injury, Lozano’s double took the Mexico international up to 13 goals in 19 Eredivisie outings this season. He is now just four shy of the 17 strikes managed in his debut PSV season in the league, after swapping first club Pachuca for Eindhoven in the summer of 2017. His prolific form has only reportedly increased interest in his services across top clubs in Europe, from the Premier League with Arsenal to Serie A where Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti said he would be willing to die just to bring Lozano to the Italian top flight, though his manager has indicated he will not be on the move in the January window.
The Mexico star also won individual honours this month, having been named CONCACAF’s male athlete of 2018. His impressive scoring record has also helped PSV move five points clear at the Eredivisie summit, although nearest rivals Ajax have a game in hand that they will play on Sunday against Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord. PSV have won 17 out of 19 games so far domestically, losing just once, raising hopes that they will defend the Eredivisie title gained last season.
But that was before Lozano’s injury which will be a big blow for van Bommel’s side, although on the flip side, it could ease the keen interest the like of Arsenal and Napoli have in him. Lozano starred for Mexico at the last World Cup in Russia last year, scoring the goal in a 1-0 win over then-defending champions, Germany.