Liverpool dealt blow as midfielder signs deal with €80m clause

Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal target Geoffrey Kondogbia has signed a permanent contract with Valencia.

Kondogbia joined the La Liga side on a €10million season-long loan from Inter Milan last summer – with the deal including an option to make the move a permanent €25million transfer at the end of the season.

And today the France midfielder has signed a contract running until 2022 after successful spell this season, with a release clause of €80million.

“I’m very happy and proud to be part of this team,” he told the club’s website. “Valencia is a wonderful club and I want to be part of its history.

“We all know Valencia is an ambitious club, which for me is important. I also want to take a step forward in my career and things are going well.”

Kondogbia, who made 31 La Liga appearances and scored four times this season, was a target for Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal, among others over the winter.

Jurgen Klopp is believed to have had a long-standing interest in Kondogbia and in March FcInterNews claimed that the Premier League trio were battling it out for the player.

Don Balon also suggested that hesitancy from Valencia could allow Liverpool to move into pole position for the 25-year-old defensive midfielder.

Klopp has confirmed he will look to add “quality” to his squad this summer with two or else three additions likely.

He will be in the market for a new central midfielder if, as expected, Emre Can walks away on a free transfer.

 

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