VALENCIA’S Pablo Piatti has attracted interest from England after turning down a move to France with Rennes the player’s agent has confirmed.
Valencia are keen to get Piatti off their wage bill this summer as he is not part of coach Miroslav Djukic’s plans.
But despite interest from Rennes, Fiorentina, Metalist Kharkiv, Olympiakos and Celtic the player currently remains with Los Che and is thought to be holding out for a move to another Spanish club.
However, as yet the most linked La Liga clubs – Almeria, Celta Vigo and Getafe – are reluctant to buy the Argentine international outright, preferring to loan him with Valencia continuing to take responsibility for a percentage of the player’s wages, reported to be in the region of £20,000-a-week after tax.
A deal taking Piatti to Rennes was thought to be close with a £1.75m fee plus 25 per cent of any future sale agreed but the 24-year-old has apparently rejected the prospect of a move to France outright.
And according to Las Provincias, the player’s agent has confirmed that a Premier League team has emerged as a possible destination for the 5ft 4in Piatti in recent days.
Everton have held a long-standing interest in Piatti after reportedly being told to meet the player’s £38m release clause by Almeria when they enquired in 2010.
Piatti subsequently moved to Valencia in 2011, but only after Roberto Martinez failed in a bid to take the player to Wigan.
And with Martinez making the move to Goodison Park this summer there were reports that the Spaniard had rekindled his interest in Piatti, with the player now available for a bargain fee.
But Piatti’s agent has thus far refused to confirm the identity of the Premier League club and Everton could still face competition for the player’s services from England if he doesn’t get his wish to remain in Spain.
3 years ago his buy out clause was £38m now he can be snapped up for £1.75m. What the fuck happened there?