West Ham United abandoned a move for Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic this summer because of the player’s huge wage packet at the Bernabeu.
That’s according to Defensa Central, who reveal why the Serbian did not end up leaving the Spanish giants.
Jovic has been a disaster since arriving at Madrid in a big-money move from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, with just two goals and two assists in 32 games for the club so far.
He was heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer as they trimmed down the squad, getting rid of big earners such as James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale in an attempt to balance the financial issues caused by COVID-19.
Despite links with clubs all around Europe, though, he did not end up moving, instead staying at the club to play a bit-part role under Zinedine Zidane.
Defensa Central now explain that his huge wages were the principal issue, with West Ham one of those to have turned away because of them.
They report that Madrid have discovered that getting rid of Jovic is a ‘serious problem’ as they can’t find a club willing to pay his wages.
Several teams have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the salary that he is picking up at the Bernabeu and turned down potential loan deals because of it.
One of those were West Ham, who it is said ‘turned to Madrid’ to try and secure a loan deal for the 22-year-old but ended up leaving ‘scared’ by the €5m they would have to pay to secure his signature.
Jovic’s current salary is labelled as ‘inflated’ in the current climate, with the club paying big to secure him ahead of the competition in 2019 and suffering for it.
Indeed, it’s claimed that several of his suitors, West Ham included, ‘came to reproach’ Madrid for paying the striker so much and effectively making him unattainable.
Madrid are aware that the situation is difficult, to say the least, and while a move in January has not been ruled out, it’s highly doubtful anyone will pay the €2.5m to make it happen.
