Brighton have been linked with Boca Juniors youngster Leonel Flores for months, but getting him out of Argentina seems to have a new price.
The 19-year-old has continued to impress since the first reports of interest from the Seagulls. Boca president Juan Román Riquelme, though, isn’t in the mood to make things easy.
The latest word from Argentina is that Boca won’t even consider negotiating a lower fee. If Brighton want Flores, they’ll have to pay his release clause. And Riquelme apparently isn’t interested in hearing about discounts.
Boca set firm conditions for Brighton
According to El Crack Deportivo, Brighton have made enquiries about his situation. But Boca’s response became straightforward.
Riquelme has reportedly decided that the only way Flores leaves is through his $20m release clause, worth approximately €17m (£14.8m).
Anything below that figure would be rejected immediately, with the Argentine club unwilling to enter negotiations over a reduced fee.
That’s a firmer position than the one reported earlier in the year, when Boca were said to be open to considering a sufficiently attractive offer.
There’s another potential complication. El Crack Deportivo suggests Brighton could face difficulties with the payment structure. The report points to the English club’s preference for deals involving instalments or performance-related bonuses.
Boca, however, are presented as demanding the full clause. That could make negotiations awkward, although there’s no indication Brighton have actually proposed any particular payment terms.
Flores keeps giving Boca reasons to hold firm
It’s not difficult to see why Boca are reluctant to lose him. Flores has gone from academy prospect to an important first-team player in a matter of months.
| Team | Appearances | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Juniors – First team | 24 | 1,782 | 5 | 3 |
| Boca Juniors – Reserves | 15 | 969 | 8 | 4 |
| Total | 39 | 2,751 | 13 | 7 |
His ability to take defenders on has helped him settle into senior football remarkably quickly. And his progress hasn’t stopped at club level.
Last month, Flores made his Argentina debut in the 4-0 win over Bolivia. He came off the bench and produced a lovely individual move to set up Flaco López for the fourth goal.
Lionel Scaloni was impressed, although the Argentina manager also had a message about handling the youngster carefully. “He’s a talent who needs to be looked after,” Scaloni said after the match.
Tottenham have also been repeatedly linked with Flores, with previous reports suggesting Spurs could consider making an offer in a future window. Arsenal and Chelsea are in the picture too.
For now, though, it’s Brighton who are back in the Argentine headlines.
Brighton have a decision to make
Flores is under contract until December 2029, he’s playing regularly and his club have no pressing reason to accept less than their asking price.
Previous reporting also suggested his clause could rise when the Argentine transfer window is closed, although El Crack Deportivo doesn’t address that detail in its latest story.
Brighton have been credited with preparing an offer before, but nothing concrete has been confirmed. Now they’re being told what it would take to get a deal done.
Whether they’re willing to meet those demands is another matter entirely. For the moment, Riquelme seems quite happy to keep his winger.
