Espanyol could be willing to sell Marc Roca for just £9 million with Burnley and Sheffield United now interested in the Spain U21 international, according to Sport.
At the start of the summer, this deep-lying play-maker in the Sergio Busquetts mould was being linked with the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan and Bayern Munich.
So, with all due respect to the Clarets and the Blades, it seems that Roca will have to lower his standards a little if he is to escape an Espanyol side who were relegated to the second tier of Spanish football for the first time since 1993 last season.
The 23-year-old ball-winner has not started any of his side’s games since the Segunda season got underway and was left out of the matchday squad altogether during Sunday’s 2-0 win at Real Oviedo.
The smart money, then, is on Roca having played his final game in blue and white with less than a week remaining until the transfer window slams shut.
Especially with Burnley and Sheffield United in the market for new signings after miserable starts to the Premier League campaign (La Grada). Both sides have lost all their games so far.
Sport adds that Roca has a £35 million release clause in his contract but Espanyol could be willing to sell for far less, potentially as little as £9 million.
Considering that Roca is one of Europe’s most highly-rated young midfielders – a man who shone alongside Saul Niguez and Dani Ceballos as Spain won the U21 European Championships last summer – such a fee could make him one of the best pound-for-pound signings in the window.
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