Raul de Tomas will have to accept a sizeable pay cut at Espanyol after failing to secure a deadline day move to West Bromwich Albion, according to AS.
Shock links with the former Real Madrid youngster came and went within 24 manic hours.
AS reported on Sunday that Slaven Bilic’s side had identified ‘RDT’ as a potential solution to their striker problems.
But, despite being relegated from La Liga for the first time since 1993, Espanyol have succeeded in keeping a talented squad of players together in an attempt to secure an immediate return to the Spanish top flight.
The Parakeets were demanding £25 million for De Tomas – a player who became their record signing when he joined from Benfica in January.
If such an eye-watering price tag was intended to scare off suitors, the plan worked.
Rather than make De Tomas the biggest signing in their history, West Brom will instead use the next two weeks to negotiate deals with Championship trio Troy Deeney, Andre Gray and Karlan Grant (Express and Star).
Staying on the blue and white half of Catalonia has, however, hit De Tomas hard in the pocket.
The old-school bull of a number nine will have little choice but to accept a substantial wage cut with his £100,000-a-week pay packet not appropriate for a club now doing battle with Sabadell and Cartagena rather than Barcelona and Real Madrid.
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