Portuguese side Sporting continue to be very reluctant about selling Bruno Fernandes this summer.
The local press has been constantly saying that the club has no intention to let the midfielder go now, as he should play for the Lions for at least one more season.
Newspaper O Jogo has a story about it all today, saying Sporting are planning to keep both Fernandes and Gelson Martins in the next transfer window.
That’s why they’re making huge demands in case clubs go for him. In Fernandes’ case, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are said to be the main pretenders.
The midfielder has a €100m release clause, which was many times said to be his price tag. Now O Jogo claims that €80m would be enough to take him.
That’s obviously still a huge amount for a player who cost only €10m year ago. And Sporting know that, demanding this amount exactly because they know clubs would hardly spend that much.
Meanwhile for Gelson, who Liverpool have also been linked to in the past, the situation is similar. He has a €60m release clause, which can be increased to €100m in case Sporting activate a special clause in his contract.
In other words, it means he should cost the same as Bruno Fernandes: a lot, as long as the Lions don’t want to negotiate.
