As the January transfer window begins to gather pace, Premier League teams are currently in for Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes, who has offers from three English clubs.
It’s become known to BR that Liverpool, whose manager Jurgen Klopp has long been an admirer of Promes, as well as both Everton and Stoke City, have expressed concrete interest in the Dutchman. Another of the Premier League’s elite in Tottenham were also in the running to sign the forward but it appears that their interest has now faded.
Spartak bought Promes in August 2014 for £10 million and managed to sign him to a new five-year contract in August 2016. However, it’s thought that this new contract was drawn up primarily to increase Promes’ release clause which is now set at £30 million.
Two of the three clubs mentioned above are happy to pay the asking price for the Netherlands international, but the Moscow club, who have a realistic chance of lifting the Russian title for the first time since 2001, are keen to prevent a deal taking place in January.
Such a situation is familiar to Liverpool, who in 2013 did everything they could to block the potential move of Luis Suarez to Arsenal, despite the Londoners willing to pay the Uruguayan’s release clause. However, unlike the current Barcelona star, Promes isn’t as eager to move right away, having promised Spartak president Leonid Fedun that he’ll stay until the end of the season at least.
Meanwhile, Russian bookmakers Liga Stavok have named Liverpool as Promes’ most likely destination – the 5-time European Champions are now as short as 2/1 to lure the Dutchman away before the end of the current transfer window. Even if the Merseyside club fail in their January pursuits, Promes is not believed to have a future in Russia and is currently priced at 3/1 to still be a Spartak player at the start of next season.