Burnley set £25m asking price for Maxwel Cornet as West Ham United consider bid
West Ham have been told that Maxwel Cornet would cost them up to £25m if they don’t want to pay Burnley his £17.5m release clause in one lump sum.
The Hammers have shown an interest in the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international as they look to strengthen their left flank, with Cornet scoring nine goals as the Clarets were relegated last season.
Their relegation meant that his £17.5m release clause became active and several clubs including Everton, Newcastle and West Ham are interested but it will only be triggered if it is all paid in one go.
Clubs are looking to negotiate a deal with Vincent Kompany’s side that would see them pay less up front, but the Daily Mail [July 30] say that it would take a total package of around £25m to convince them to do business that way.
West Ham had been looking at signing Filip Kostic from Frankfurt, but the player isn’t convinced by the move and would prefer to stay and play Champions League football before leaving for free next summer [ExWHUemployee, July 30].
Bizarre
Obviously not paying £17.5m in one lump is the ideal for the clubs interested in Cornet, but paying and extra £7.5m over the course of however long just seems counter productive.
£17.5m for a Premier League side is a relatively small sum, especially settled clubs like Newcastle, West Ham and Everton so it’s bizarre that they’re even considering that type of deal.
For West Ham in particular, they’re looking at spending around £15m on Kostic so forking out a few extra quid to get in a player who is Premier League proven and strengthens the squad seems like a no brainer.
The longer they leave it to bubble, the more other clubs get involved and consider their own position and it could leave them with less chance to get a deal done.
The price is set and it’s an easy deal to negotiate, with the player wanting to leave too, and all of this is simply odd when a target is so readily available to join quickly.