Levante have rejected AFC Bournemouth’s latest offer of €25m plus €2m in bonuses for Jefferson Lerma. The English club were willing to add 15% of the fee collected from the future sale, which could have made the deal worth more than €30m in the long run.
Super Deporte claims the La Liga outfit’s refusal to sell the South American has angered the 23-year-old, according to people close to him.
Lerma was part of Colombia’s squad at the 2018 World Cup. Before flying to Russia, it was his desire to play in the Premier League next season because it would double his salary. He had an agreement with Eddie Howe’s side, who made bids before and after the FIFA tournament.
He has so far not returned to preseason training. The official date for him to rejoin the group was on July 16th, while the next unofficial date was on July 25th, which he has missed. The next date is on August 4th, which will make it a month’s vacation for the player.
Levante president Quico Catalán has already stated that interested clubs should meet their asking price. He remains strong in his stance, even though Lerma has not returned to training.
It should be seen if Levante will hold the player against his wish or will they allow him to join Bournemouth this summer.