Valentin Barco wants to transfer to Brighton and Hove Albion, and the team has “deployed their entire arsenal” to recruit him from Boca Juniors.
Ole and TyC Sports, who both discuss the player’s predicament today following Brighton’s move yesterday, say as much.
Ole begins by stating that Brighton entered the race for Barco again yesterday, making an offer of about $9 million, which is $1 million less than the player’s release clause.
They want to work out a deal with Boca Juniors for him rather than just turning on that provision and taking him right away.
According to the player’s team, a $9 million transaction would be made for 90% of the player’s rights, with 10% going to the Argentine team. The remaining amount would be paid in February 2025, with the first $4.5 million due in February. Boca, though, are of a mind to reject this as it’s below the value of his release clause and they want to retain the defender anyway. Their plan was to offer him a new deal next week that would increase his release clause to $14m.
However, Brighton may take that opportunity away from them by simply paying his $10m clause and moving on to speaking to the player and his representatives.
All the parties are waiting for Barco to make his desires clear but according to TyC Sports, he’s already made the decision.
They report that the ‘the truth is that the player has decided to leave the club’ and so if Boca don’t accept the $9m offer, Brighton will simply activate his $10m release clause.
The Seagulls offered their present fee as a type of nice gesture to keep their good relations with the Argentine team going, knowing that Boca is planning to try to raise the player’s price tag.
After expressing their “strong interest” in the 19-year-old to his representation, they “already had a talk” with him. Following that, they formally made an offer to Boca in the hopes of reaching an agreement that works for everyone.
But rather than waiting to be outwitted, they will just pay his clause if necessary to complete this protracted negotiation.
