Espanyol President Joan Collet has conceded that the trying to tie vice-captain Joan Verdu to a long-term contract has been 'complicated'.
The 31-year-old's current deal expires in the summer, and the Periquitos have been keen not to let their star midfielder leave on a free at the end of the summer.
But the club's chief has insisted it has not been an easy sell.
“We are trying to manage the present and the future,” he told Sport. “But Verdu is a key player in our team and we want to give him a new deal because he is a winner.
“However, the renewal of Verdu has been complicated.”
