by Forever Blue » Tue Jan 15, 2019 3:29 pm
By French football expert and journalist Andy Scott
Cardiff City have been delayed in their quest to complete a deal for Nantes striker Emiliano Sala.
Tuesday 15th January 2019
Also Cardiff City offered £13mill, not £18-£20mill.
It now appears the Bluebirds must wait until the end of a week with Sala considering his options, despite having held "constructive" talks with Cardiff club officials.
There has been a suggestion that the Argentine striker "doesn't want to come" to Cardiff, instead preferring a move to a club playing European football.
French football expert and journalist Andy Scott who's been tracking the Sala deal in his role for AFP Sport spoke to us about the truth behind those rumours...
ANDY SCOTT:
How much truth is there in the stories that Sala doesn't want to join Cardiff?
"There's been interest from Cardiff for quite a long time, going back a number of weeks," says Andy.
"We had a call on Tuesday from my colleague based in the west of France - who covers Nantes - saying that Sala was being somewhat pushed into accepting this move and didn't want the move.
"Sala for a while now has been making lots of noise about wanting to leave Nantes.
"Nantes is historically a big club and one of the better supported teams in France, but at the moment they're not financially very high up the food chain in France.
"A move to Galatasary didn't materialise for Sala in the summer and Sala was unhappy about not being allowed to move. He wanted to go to a club in the Champions League and saw that as a step up.
"And I don't think he'd accept any old team playing in the Europa League, but by all accounts it's always been Sala's ambition to play for a club in Europe.
"Cardiff obviously can't offer that.
"And though it's still definitely possible that Sala could accept the move to Cardiff, it would appear it's not what he originally wanted.
"That's why he's been quite sceptical about putting pen to paper.
Would Nantes sell him?
There's conflict at Nantes about whether to keep or cash in on Sala, according to Andy.
"The Nantes coach is furious about this (situation) for oblivious reasons and wants Sala (his top scorer) to sign a new contract, but the Nantes president Waldermar Kita is very eager to push the deal through.
"That's because Cardiff were offering a fairly absurd amount of money for a player who's out of contract in 18 months' time. The figure mooted is £20million but even if it's around £13million, that's probably slightly less than a third of Nantes' annual budget.
"The president knows he's got a player who doesn't want to stay and he doesn't want to reject such a lucrative offer."
Could he be convinced to join Cardiff?
Despite those reports that Sala doesn't fancy a move to the lower echelons of the Premier League, Andy explains that money could talk, as well as the pull of the most-watched league in the world.
"Sala is a guy from Argentina who moved to France at a young age, so moving to Cardiff as a city might be very different to what he's used to," says Andy.
"Money might talk. Cardiff will pay pretty well compared to your average French team. Sala is probably making about £10,000 per week at Nantes.
"There has actually been talk of Premier League clubs being interested in him in the past. Watford and Crystal Palace have been linked.
"Everton have even been named and Sala would probably be very keen on that, but I'm not sure he's at that level."
Would he be a good signing for Cardiff?
If and when all the financial hurdles and personal terms are ironed out, the big question remains as to whether Sala would prove an astute signing for Warnock's men.
"He's certainly one of the best strikers in Ligue 1, in terms of a big centre-forward who will get goals. But I'd be amazed if he ever breaks into the Argentina squad," says Andy.
"So maybe this move makes sense in terms of his level and the financial benefits for Nantes.
"Bordeaux, his previous club, are also entitled to a large chunk in a sell-on, which could complicate things too.
"Lots can still happen.
"A year ago, Southampton signed Guido Carillo from Monaco who was also an Argentine striker coming to the Premier League from France. Southampton paid a club record £22million for him and that turned out be a complete failure and now he's in Spain on loan.
"It's a risk, but Cardiff might have to take it. In theory, it could be a move that works out."
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