Aston Villa would need pay Geoffrey Kondogbia more than €120,000 (£101,000) a week if they want to sign him this summer, according to a new report.
The Lowdown: Villa keen on Kondogbia
Kondogbia has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent days, with Villa manager Steven Gerrard potentially seeing him as a primary summer transfer target.
It has been stated that Gerrard 'appreciates' him as a player, with the Frenchman proving to be a key part of Atletico Madrid's midfield this season and the Villans boss even jetting off to watch him in action.
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Kondogbia has made 23 appearances in La Liga, as well as nine in the Champions League, averaging a respective 2.7 and 2.2 tackles per game.
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The Latest: Fresh update emerges
According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], the midfielder is looking for a pay increase in order to trade Atletico for Villa this summer.
A 'much higher wage' than his current €120,000 (£101,000) per week is mooted in the report, with the Villans aiming to sell players in order to afford what would be a 'very expensive transfer.'
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The Verdict: Could be hard to get done
While Kondogbia is clearly a top-class midfielder who would strengthen Villa's midfield, paying him such extortionate wages could be a tricky situation.
Danny Ings (£120,000) is the only current player earning over £100,000 a week, so the France international would come straight in as one of the club's highest earners.
Not only that, but he doesn't seem overly convinced by a move to Villa Park, according to the report, so paying such big money for a potentially money-hungry player feels like a big risk.
In other news, Ashley Preece has dropped a key Villa transfer claim. Read more here.