Espanyol have rejected an opening bid of €4m from Real Madrid for goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, but President Joan Collet says he is open to a sale.
Los Blancos have identified the 28-year-old as a cheaper alternative to David de Gea and can buy out the remaining 50 percent of his playing rights for €10m but hoped to exploit the Catalans’ need for funds with a cut-price offer.
“€4m is too little a price for the player and Espanyol, neither have I taken [the bid] into consideration,” Collet was quoted as saying by AS.
“If the offer doesn’t change, we won’t sit down to speak with them.
“Release clauses are rarely respected. We like it that way, but we’re open to negotiating.”
However, he confirmed Christian Stuani’s move to English Championship club Middlesbrough “is well under way” after a €3m bid was accepted.
On the topic of Thievy Bifouma, Collet acknowledged “two or three” offers from teams outside Spain, although the French attacker is understood to favour a switch to Granada.
With the prospect of losing two forwards this summer, the 53-year-old refused to rule out Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno and Elche’s Jonathas.
Finally, the patron clarified that his side received €2.5m for Lucas Vazquez from Madrid, rather than just the €1m which was quoted by news outlets.
In addition, they will receive 25 percent of a future sale if Los Merengues decide to move him on.