As they look for a backup attacker, Manchester United and Chelsea are in talks to sign Martin Braithwaite from Espanyol.
Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly in negotiations to sign Espanyol striker Martin Braithwaite. This information comes from Marca. Instead of selling him in the summer, the second-division team could gain from the former Barcelona star leaving for a small fee.
Is Martin Braithwaite set to join the Premier League?
Recently, there has been a lot of conjecture regarding Martin Braithwaite’s immediate future, particularly in relation to a move to the Premier League. Mikel Arteta has been linked to Arsenal recently as he looks to bolster his attacking group, and other teams have also been keeping an eye on the 12-goal star from Espanyol.
As the top scorer in the Spanish second division, Braithwaite has had a successful season. But Espanyol is not exactly flying high in the rankings; they are stuck in fifth place, seven points behind leaders Leganes. Therefore, there’s a chance Braithwaite will seize the chance to sign with a Premier League team this month.
The striker was recently offered to Chelsea and Manchester United, but nothing has moved forward until now. According to the report, the Premier League’s biggest clubs are negotiating and having talks with Espanyol to determine their next course of action. Top clubs’ spending has been curtailed by FFP, which may have pushed them to choose Braithwaite or another less expensive option.
Will Espanyol make money from Braithwaite’s sale?
It’s possible to argue that Braithwaite was fired from Barcelona at a moment when the team was frantically trying to reduce their massive payroll. By doing this, they made it possible for the Dane to sign a free transfer to Espanyol, which would have allowed them to profit handsomely should the Spanish second division decide to sell him.
Braithwaite’s contract currently has a €7 million release clause, but the terms beyond that could allow Chelsea and Manchester United to negotiate a lower price. The Dane could leave if Espanyol gets promoted, but if he stays, he could fetch €600,000.
Espanyol will therefore profit financially more from selling him now than it would in the summer. Although there is a good chance that potential suitors will try to lower the asking price, the club may forfeit its best player and miss out on promotion if Braithwaite is sold.
