Leganes 'worried' after confirming Barca approaches for Braithwaite

Following rumours of Barcelona considering Martin Braithwaite as a short-term replacement for Ousmane Dembele, Leganes confirmed talks.

Published : Feb 18, 2020 21:45 IST

Leganes's Martin Braithwaite in action against Barcelona.
Leganes's Martin Braithwaite in action against Barcelona.
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Leganes's Martin Braithwaite in action against Barcelona.

Barcelona has contacted Leganes regarding the potential signing of striker Martin Braithwaite and the Madrid club is worried losing him will doom it to relegation, according to majority shareholder Felipe Moreno.

After having Ousmane Dembele ruled out for six months last week, Barca is reported to have been granted special dispensation to sign a new player despite the transfer window being closed.

The regulations in place stipulate the player it signs must either be registered with another Spanish club already or a free agent.

 

Angel Rodriguez, Willian Jose, Lucas Perez and Loren Moron were said to be the initial candidates, but in the past few days Leganes' Denmark international Braithwaite has seemingly emerged as the most likely option.

Leganes confirmed Barca made contact with it on Monday but insists Braithwaite will only leave if his reported €20million release clause is triggered, with Moreno expressing concern after the relegation-threatened side lost another striker in Youssef En-Nesyri to Sevilla last month.

"Yesterday [Monday] afternoon they called and contemplated this situation," Moreno told reporters on Tuesday. "They only made contact once.

"The truth is that we are very worried. After what happened to us with En-Nesyri, now what happens with Braithwaite ... staying in LaLiga gets more complicated every day. In these next hours we will know what happens, yes or no.

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"I don't know if anyone will come from Barcelona today. The player has a day off and we have not talked to him.

"I understand why Braithwaite would go to Barca, I would too. But of course, we are not going to negotiate anything. They pay his clause, or he stays at Leganes.

"I can understand that Barca do this if the law allows them to, but I thought that they couldn't sign an active player, only one free agent. I was surprised."

After 24 LaLiga matches this season, Leganes is second-bottom of the table, only ahead of Espanyol on goal difference and two points adrift of Celta Vigo in 17th.

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