River Plate are looking to agree new contracts for Gonzalo Montiel and Lucas Martinez Quarta amid speculation linking the duo with Crystal Palace and Leeds United, club chief Enzo Fransecoli has said in quotes translated by AS.
With even the biggest clubs in South America hit hard in the pocket by football’s ongoing financial crisis, speculation continues to rage surrounding the future of two Argentina internationals with affordable release clauses in their contract.
Montiel can be snapped up for £18 million, with West Ham expected to renew their interest in a right-back they have tracked since January.
Montiel’s agent even told TNT a few weeks back that the Hammers will make an offer, with the Albiceleste ace potentially set to replace compatriot Pablo Zabaleta at the London Stadium.
Martinez Quarta, meanwhile, has a £20 million release-clause in his current deal.
And Marcelo Bielsa is keen for Leeds United to sign the tenacious and technically gifted centre-half when Ben White returns to Brighton (El Intransigente).
But River Plate have not given up hope just of keeping a pair of 2018 Copa Libertadores-winning heroes.
“We started the talks for the renewal of the contracts ofMontiel, Martínez Quarta and (striker Rafael) Borré,” Uruguayan legend Francescoli tells FM Club 947.
As it stands, both Montiel and Martinez Quarta will become free agents in 2021, so no wonder River Plate are doing their utmost to protect their assets in an already strained transfer market.
It remains to be seen whether any new contracts, if they are indeed forthcoming, will affect the current release-clauses.
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