HITC Football understands Brighton & Hove Albion are set to pay Valentin Barco’s release clause after agreeing personal terms with the Argentine youth star.
Barco is a long-term target for The Seagulls and they have seen off strong competition from the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea to land the teenager.
HITC Football revealed last week that Brighton were locked in talks with Boca Juniors about a deal for the 19-year-old.
Release clause
Sources have now confirmed that Brighton are now set to pay his €10million (£7.8million) release clause – despite offering Boca slightly more with the request of paying in two instalments, but with that rejected they will now pay to release him.
Brighton had to move now as if they had waited to within 10 days of the window closing it would have raised to $14million.
Sources have told HITC Football that Barco made his decision over the weekend that he wanted to move to England and that personal terms are already agreed in principle. He will commit to a five-year deal with Albion.
Olympic squad
Barco although signing this month, we understand that he won’t join up with Brighton until February as he is part of the Argentina Under-23 squad that is due to take part in a CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying event in Venezuela starting on January 20th.
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