Sporting CP are reportedly planning to offer João Mário a new contract, but the club still want to make sure he’s committed before paying a higher salary to the player.
Jornal de Notícias says the negotiations will take place after the start of the new season.
Both of the decisions are reactions to what has been happening in the past few months. The pay rise is due to João Mário’s father’s comments, since he said his son wasn’t being valued at the club.
Waiting for the renewal is because Sporting think that English clubs could still take him. Jornal de Notícias mentions a €50m offer from Chelsea, made before the Euros, which made the Portuguese side hopeful that someone could still pay the €60m release clause this summer.
So Sporting don’t want to pay a higher salary plus renewal bonuses and then see the player walking out before August. Although the expiration date is expected to be changed, the newspaper says the release clause shouldn’t be much increased.
João Mário’s wish to play in England was also made public by his father, but despite the numerous rumours in the past few months, no clubs have got close to triggering the release clause.
Manchester United were considered to be in pole position for a while, but after the midfielder changed agent Jorge Mendes for Kia Joorabchian, the links with Chelsea started becoming stronger.
