Real Valladolid director, David Espinar reiterates that the club is ready to replace Mohammed Salisu should he departs in January.
The Ghanaian international has been on the radar of several English Premier League clubs.
A 20-year-old who moved to Spain in 2017 and forced his way into the Valladolid first-team this season, has started every one of their 16 games so far in La Liga.
And, with a £10 million release clause in his contract, it is no surprise that the youngster has caught the eye of a number of clubs aiming to reinforce their defence on a budget.
Diario de Valladolid reported in November that Everton, Southampton, Newcastle and relegation-threatened Norwich City are all interested with the January transfer window just weeks away.
Salisu might have been Valladolid’s most impressive performer in recent months, with the Pucellesitting pretty in mid-table, but Espinar is not exactly suffering from sleepless nights with a key player’s future uncertain.
“Any player can be taken away. If you want Salisu, you pay (the release clause) and you take him,” Espinar told Pucela Fichajes.
“We need to sell players, but also to compete. If Salisu left, I think we would have others (ready to replace him).”
However, reports in Spain suggest that Valladolid hope to tie Salisu down to a new contract with a bigger release clause but negotiations appear to have hit a brick wall at the worst possible time.
Interest from Norwich and Southampton is no surprise, given that the Canaries and the Saints have both conceded over 30 Premier League goals already, while Newcastle potentially see Salisu as a long-term replacement for the soon out-of-contract Federico Fernandez.
Salisu, was handed his debut Black Stars call-up for Ghana’s 20221 Cup of Nations double header qualifiers against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe but had to pull out of the two games due to injury.