Andoni Iraola rejected Leeds United over release clause haggling, doubts now on £8million Nuno Espirito Santo
Andoni Iraola rejected a move to Leeds United because the club were attempting to haggle over his release clause, according to Graeme Bailey.
Rayo Vallecano were unwilling to allow their manager to leave before the end of the season with the club currently pushing for European qualification in La Liga, but the Spaniard has a release clause that could have forced their hand.
According to 90min journalist Bailey there was an unwillingness from the Whites to meet his release clause, and the talks with Rayo put the 40-year-old himself off the move so he walked away from the matter, which now raises questions over the ability to land one of the remaining options, Nuno Espirito Santo, who also has a sizeable fee attached.
Speaking on 90min’s Talking Transfers podcast (14 February, 12min) Bailey said: “Intermediaries have touched base with Nuno. He does have a very big release clause, £8million, which was a prime reason they didn’t get Iraola.
“They were trying to negotiate that down and he stepped away from Leeds saying, ‘If you’re not willing to pay my release clause I’m not going to come’.
“Can I see them paying £8million to get Nuno out? I think that’s a big ask.”
Corner cutting
What good is it breaking the club’s transfer record to sign Georginio Rutter, amid a January spend that could top £70million if Weston McKennie becomes a permanent signing, if the club aren’t willing to pay what it takes to put the right man in charge?
Iraola would be available in the summer if he doesn’t sign a new contract at Rayo Vallecano before then, so if he is the man that Victor Orta wants then Leeds United obviously have to show him they are committed.
Meeting a release clause isn’t just a matter of one team agreeing to pay another team, so there has to be cooperation from the player or manager it applies to.
There had been a feeling that Iraola didn’t want to be disrespectful to his current club [The Athletic, 11 February] but was interested in the Elland Road move if they would accommodate it.
But if the man himself was put off by the negotiations to reduce the fee then it puts his potential arrival in the summer in doubt as well.
And if the hierarchy were not prepared to pay for the man who was one of their top options, then it seems pretty unlikely that they will do so for a back-up plan like Nuno, even if he seems like one of the more sensible options currently around.
They are going to have to hope that Michael Skubala holds things together in the mean time because there are increasing indications that the board have botched the managerial situation.
Sacking Jesse Marsch without a plan in place to replace him, and then dropping the ball on multiple options in the ensuing days, won’t inspire confidence among the fans, or for that matter other potential candidates.
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