Real Madrid have reportedly reached deadlock with Real Sociedad over negotiations for the transfer of Asier Illarramendi.
Madrid have been pushing to close a deal for the 23-year-old midfielder, with it believed that the player is reluctant to force through a transfer after the date of his return to preseason training at Zubieta, which is this Thursday.
La Real are understood to have taken a non-negotiable stance for the player’s buyout clause of €30m to be paid in full, plus VAT on that transaction, which would put the total spend for Los Blancos at €36m.
The San Sebastian outfit have also reportedly made clear to the player a determination to improve his current earnings at Anoeta should he stay, to bring him level with the squad’s highest earners Xabi Prieto and Calros Vela.
Madrid through President Florentino Perez, meanwhile, are still seen as keen to negotiate to pay a maximum of €30m for Illarramendi.
Los Blancos’ second option in negotiating a deal would be to hand over to Illarramendi the money to buy out his €30m contract. However, this would be liable to income tax and push the actual amount up to €42m.
La Real would reportedly be prepared to negotiate down that second possible amount, but only to the €36m mark again.
