Grzegorz Krychowiak signs Sevilla deal with £32.2m release fee amid Arsenal and Manchester City links
Much-desired talent Grzegorz Krychowiak has committed his future to Sevilla, signing a deal that extends until 2019. The Europa League winners have rewarded the Poland international for his recent impressive performances with a pay rise, but in exchange the players has agreed to raise his release clause from £21.5m ($32.6m) to £32.2m amid interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
The 25-year-old star garnered a reputation as one of the most sought-after holding midfielders in the game after he led Sevilla to the Europa League crown on the back of a number of impressive performances.
The Times reported in August that Arsene Wenger had identified Krychowiak as a challenger for Francis Coquelin's position, after the club's first-choice signing, Morgan Schneiderlin, opted to join Manchester United instead.
The French manager eventually opted against bolstering in that position, but last month The Daily Telegraph renewed speculations by revealing Manchester City were ready to join the Gunners in the battle for Krychowiak's services – adding that Arsenal had been close to triggering the player's £21.5m release clause over the summer.
The Premier League giants have now both suffered a blow in their intentions, with Sevilla announce that the new release clause is over £10m higher.
"The Polish international, who in just over a year at the club has established itself as one of the natural leaders of the team, has extended his contract one campaign further, setting his buyout clause at €45m," the club confirmed.
The news does not completely rule out Krychowiak moving to the Premier League in the near future, though. Estadio Deportivo recently reported the player was very open to a move to England and any new deal signed would be there solely to boost his release clause and allow Sevilla a bigger payday on his future sale.
Sevilla have adopted a similar police in recent years with players such as Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, Ivan Rakitic, Alberto Moreno, Carlo Bacca and Aleix Vidal all leaving after their release clause was triggered by bigger European sides.
Quizzed about the Arsenal rumours in September, the Poland star seemed philosophical. "That does not matter now," he said. "What matters to me is that I am staying at Sevilla. It was important for me to keep progressing here. Playing at Sevilla this season is very important to me, it is where I wanted to be. I would say that every story about transfers has a grain of truth."
Wenger's eagerness for the player is especially noteworthy, with both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini having an uncertain long-term future at Arsenal.
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