The extent to which Alvaro Negredo is persona non grata at Valencia is probably more than a little harsh.
The club paid Manchester City too much for the player, having agreed to part with almost €30m, on a deal which was initially a loan but had a compulsory purchase option.
Negredo is also on very high wages for Valencia, and with the club failing to get Champions League football for next season, money is tight.
There almost appears an annoyance with Negredo for not just clearing off at the first sign of an opportunity, which was an approach from China. The striker’s wish was to stay in Spain where his family is, and it’s still relatively early in the window.
Deporte Valenciano say Peter Lim, Valencia’s owner, has ‘ordered’ the player be sold, ruling out the possibility of a loan.
That makes it difficult for a Spanish club to get the player, but would be a boost for Middlesbrough. The English club were linked last week and said to have already opened talks.
However, as much power rests with Negredo as it does with Lim. Middlesbrough may well be tempting, but if the striker is adamant he wants to stay in Spain, Lim may simply have to lump it.
If the Middlesbrough option doesn’t come through, and nobody else from the Premier League gives it a go, then demands on a transfer fee will have to fall if Lim wants a permanent transfer. Then a Spanish club could afford a deal, but would likely still push for an initial loan.
