‘A shame’: Director fears losing reported Southampton target; £14m release clause

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Levante are desperate to keep Southampton target Jorge de Frutos for another year although a £14 million summer sale would “solve” the club’s Financial Fair Play problems, director Manolo Salvador admits to Marca.

One of the real breakthrough stars of 2020/21, De Frutos’ time at the Ciutat de Valencia may be short and sweet.

The late-blooming winger has been a revelation at Levante, producing the second-most assists in La Liga (eight) while notching one of the goals of the season in a shock 2-0 win at Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid a few weeks ago.

But, with Levante stuck in a precarious financial position and under pressure to raise funds via player sales, all signs suggest De Frutos may be on the move again this summer – even if Salvador would prefer to keep the Spanish speed-machine for at least another 12 months.

According to Super Deporte, Real Madrid want to bring the former Los Blancos youngster back to the Bernabeu, while Southampton recently held talks with De Frutos’ agent regarding a potential Premier League switch (Mirror, February 28, page 67).

“Officially, we don’t know anything about Real Madrid. We trust Jorge a lot and hopefully we can have him for more years,” says Salvador.

“If Madrid come and sign him, it will show a good job has been done by the sports management. But it would be a shame not to be able to count on him next year.

“Hopefully we can enjoy Jorge for many years at Levante because, at a sporting level, he gives us a lot.”

In a second interview, this time with Plaza Deportiva, Salvador struck a rather less hopeful tone, confirming the existence of a release clause in De Frutos’ contract.

“Levante will not negotiate with anyone for De Frutos. Whoever comes will have to pay the clause and whoever pays it, pays for it. Levante will receive €15 million (£14 million),” Salvador adds.

“Our idea and what we would like is for De Frutos to stay with us for another year. But if there is no other remedy because they trigger the clause, obviously €15 million would be welcome because it would practically solve the Fair Play problem.”