Spanish side Sevilla are laying the groundwork for a permanent move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, despite fears the Magpies will make life difficult.
Estadio Deportivo cover the situation today, including quotes from sources close to the goalkeeper.
Vlachodimos is currently on loan at the Spanish club and earning plenty of rave reviews as their number one. Sevilla want to sign him permanently, and the Greek goalkeeper has expressed a desire to stay too.
Indeed, Sport Witness covered a report at the end of January stating that conversations had already taken place with Vlachodimos about the possibility. That was followed by a report stating Sevilla want to pay a pittance for him, making a transfer difficult.
No Newcastle help this time
Estadio now add to that. The newspaper reports that while Sevilla have no doubts about signing Vlachodimos permanently, it’s the money that’s the issue.
According to their information, Sevilla have already begun ‘preparing the ground’ by making initial contact with the player and his representatives. They’ve discussed the possibility of signing him permanently, which would require the player’s ‘complete willingness’.
The loan deal does now include a purchase option, though. Negotiations with Newcastle would have to start from scratch. And the belief is that Magpies will want to recoup some of their €24m investment.
That will make it an ‘extremely difficult task’ for Sevilla to get him. Their limited financial demands won’t match up with Newcastle’s likely demands.
Vlachodimos’ pessimism
The goalkeeper’s inner circle are not optimistic either. They see a complex situation unfolding and, crucially, Newcastle now playing ball.
These inside sources have confirmed to Estadio that Vlachodimos would welcome staying at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. But the loan from Newcastle last summer was ‘an exception forced by circumstances.’ Newcastle are unlikely to be as accommodating this time around.
“Ody is having a great season. He and his family are very happy in Sevilla and he’s considering staying longer, but the financial situation is really, really difficult,” sources ‘closes to the player told Estadio.
“What happened this season has been exceptional. We are sure that Newcastle will not make exceptions and will not negotiate anything similar with him in the summer, so it will be very difficult due to the financial aspect.”