Wakaso, Espanyol rifts deepen

Ghanaian midfielder Mubarak Wakaso has refused Espanyol’s latest contractual offer from club president Joan Collet.

The new deal is reportedly worth 6 million euros a year and it will double the player’s current wage of 20,000 euros but it has been described as “insufficient” by the Black Stars midfielder.

However, there are indications that he wants to remain at the club. It is quite clear that Wakaso does not want to drag matters any longer for two reasons.

First, coach Javier Aguirre asked him to stay at the club and his status will be changed to one of the highest earners at the club.

Secondly, the club valued him at four million euros but they surprisingly refused a six million euro offer from Rubin Kazan and that seems to be the sour point between the two parties.

He has said that the club should at least match what Kazan offered when they made a bid for his services so he can be one of the highest earners at the club.

The Russian club would have given Wakaso about 1.5 million euros annually and about 300,000 euros in bonuses but Espanyol stood firm and the coach Javier Aguirre stated clearly that the player was not for sale at any price despite having other midfielders at the club (Simao, Pizzi, Lanzarote)

Last Thursday, Collet indicated to Wakaso’s agent via telephone that the club could only afford half a million euros more in terms of an increase to the original offer despite the club’s plans to reduce spending.

Wakaso is currently with the Black Stars team in Turkey and is expected back in Spain on Thursday even though there is a slight uncertainty over the matter.

Sources close the club state that negotiations will continue and a new deal will be given to Wakaso in coming days in the hopes that it will solve the issue and get the team ready for the next La Liga season.