Manquillo joined Sunderland on an initial season-long loan deal in the summer.
Sunderland could end up paying Atletico Madrid £9.5 million for Javier Manquillo if the defender plays 25 games for the club this season, the Chronicle reports.
Manquillo signed for the Black Cats in the summer on an initial loan deal, but having played seven games for the club already this season, a further 18 appearances would see that deal for the 22-year-old become a permanent one.
The Chronicle reports that it is not clear if relegation will nullify the clause, although it would seem ‘likely’.
Having played seven league games this season, it appears David Moyes has put Billy Jones ahead of the Spaniard in the pecking order for the full-back roles in each of the past two games.
As is pointed out in the Chronicle’s piece, Sunderland have been caught out in the past with certain loan deals, notably with Santiago Vergini and Ricardo Alvarez.
But it would seem already that Manquillo has a lot to prove on the training ground to get back into the Sunderland side in the coming weeks, as the club will be wary of the clause that is hanging over their head.
The last thing the club wants is to be splashing the cash on a player they have had a close look at over the course of the season, yet still remain unconvinced of his ability to make the grade at the Stadium of Light.
It remains to be seen whether Manquillo can earn his place back in the Sunderland side and help them recover from their start to the season, which currently sees them bottom of the Premier League.
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