[스포츠한국 김성수 기자] Lee Kang-in (22, RCD Mallorca) wants to transfer, but the club doesn’t seem to want to let him go. There is currently only one way for Lee Kang-in to escape Mallorca this winter.
Spanish media Marca said on the 25th (Korean time), “Lee Kang-in is not happy in Mallorca. Even though other clubs are showing high interest in Lee Kang-in, Mallorca has no intention of sending him in the January transfer window.”
Lee Kang-in is currently ‘unfollowing’ the Mallorca club’s official social media account. The biggest reason seems to be Mallorca’s stance that it will not accept any proposals from other clubs regarding Kang-in Lee’s transfer. According to Marca, Mallorca is known to be willing to proceed with negotiations for Lee Kang-in’s transfer only next summer.
Following the existing Newcastle, Aston Villa, Burnley and Feyenoord, ‘Spain’s strongman’ Atletico Madrid and ‘England’s dark horse’ Brighton are known to be interested in Lee Kang-in in the transfer market this winter. However, the fact that Mallorca has no intention of negotiating Lee Kang-in’s transfer fee with them is what makes Lee Kang-in frustrated.
Of course, there are ways to recruit players without negotiating the transfer fee with the current team. It is to pay the buyout (contract clause stating that other clubs who have offered more than the amount specified in the contract between the player and the current club can directly negotiate with the player without consulting the club).
According to Marka, Lee Kang-in’s buyout amount is known to be 17 million euros (approximately 22.9 billion won). If a club that pays for it appears, Lee Kang-in’s chances of escaping Mallorca this winter are very high.
Meanwhile, Mallorca local newspaper Ultima Ora said, “Mallorca coach Javier Aguirre assured me that no club would pay for Kang-in Lee’s buyout.” Coach Aguirre believed that there would be no winter transfer for Lee Kang-in unless other clubs negotiated with him to lower his transfer fee.
Will Lee Kang-in be able to find a new home before the winter transfer market ends? In order for Lee Kang-in to rise to a higher level, it seems that the team that wants him must make a bold decision.