Tuesday, 27th August, 2013
Monaco are on the verge of pipping Chelsea and Manchester United to the post for Geoffrey Kondogbia, with a decision on meeting his €20m release clause expected today.
According to L'Equipe, the principality club are poised on the matter, especially after previous bids for the Sevilla midfielder failed.
Offers in the region of €15m were flatly rejected by Sevilla, who have been almost primal in their desire to retain Kondogbia.
However, Monaco appear very keen to add Kondogbia to their expensive ranks, and it is believed the Frenchman will be given a five-year deal.
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Kondogbia has seen his own transfer saga develop along soap-opera lines, with initial interest rejected by his club president.
The 20-year-old had admitted he could consider a move – with Manchester United and Chelsea lurking at the time – but would need to be guaranteed playing time.
Jose Maria del Nido had warned Kondogbia's suitors that any attempt to match the release clause would be deemed a "hostile" act.
Amid the war footing, the twist came when Del Nido insisted there would be no negotiations for the player and only a flat transfer fee would do the trick.
There is the condition that Monaco will have to cough up a sizeable amount of tax, meaning the overall transfer fee could rise up to €31m.
If all goes well, Kondogbia will return to his native France, having left boyhood club Lens to join Sevilla last year.
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