Bild reports slight movement in Sørloth talks
RB Leipzig have spent much of the last week at an impasse with Turkish Club Trabzonspor over the transfer of hot Norwegian commodity Alexander Sørloth. One German source hints that there's been some movement.
Germany’s Bild Zeitung reports that RB Leipzig have raised their initial offer in the ongoing negotiations to obtain Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth. Movement was reported on the in the talks between Leipzign and Turkish Club Trabzonspor. This may signal something of a breakthrough as the two sides are, according to the account, not necessarily very far apart.
Leipzig’s opening bid appears to have been in the neighborhood of €18 million as a base fee augmented by a €4 million bonus. The Turkish club is said to be seeking only slightly higher numbers of €20 million base and €6 million bonus respectively. These numbers are conveyed by German website Ligainsider.de.
Talks continue on dual fronts. Leipzig must negotiate with both Trabzonspor and Sørloth’s parent club Crystal Palace in order to conclude the transfer. Some creative contractual maneuvering may technically be possible, though one would assume that it, were it possible, the stalemate would have already been broken.
Sørloth’s prolific international break—two goals and three assists for his national team in two UEFA Nations League fixtures—may have played a role in the upped bid. Leipzig club officials are quoted as saying they await movement on their striker question, “in the next few days”.