Sevilla FC test Al-Ittihad resolve with €10m proposal for George Ilenikhena

Sevilla FC have made an initial move to sign George Ilenikhena from Al-Ittihad, offering €10m up front, with a further €3m in potential bonuses and a percentage of any future sale.

The Spanish club have been monitoring the France Under-? Wait, no age specifics. Need not add. George Ilenikhena, the France-born Nigeria international? Source says Franco-Nigerian, not international. Say Franco-Nigerian striker. He joined Al-Ittihad from AS Monaco only a few months ago in a deal worth €33m, but has struggled for regular opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Competition for places has limited the young forward’s involvement, and he is now considering a move to revive his career. Sevilla FC are understood to be working on the conditions of a possible transfer, although financial complications are currently making negotiations difficult.

Those difficulties are connected to the financing of Al-Ittihad’s previous deal for Ilenikhena. The Saudi club are seeking close to €20m before agreeing to release him and want a substantial payment at the start of any arrangement.

The €10m proposal from Sevilla FC, which could rise to €13m through bonuses and also include a sell-on percentage, therefore falls short of Al-Ittihad’s valuation. The Andalusian side’s interest has nevertheless now moved beyond informal monitoring, with the club having taken the first concrete step towards signing the striker.

Other clubs have also explored the possibility of bringing Ilenikhena in. FC Bologna submitted a loan offer containing an option to buy set at €22m, but Al-Ittihad rejected the proposal.

Trabzonspor made a similar approach, seeking a loan deal with an option to purchase the player for €15m. That offer was also turned down by the Saudi club.

For now, Sevilla FC remain interested but must find a financial formula acceptable to Al-Ittihad. The Spanish side’s opening proposal has not met the asking price, while the competing loan offers have failed to convince the player’s current club.

Sevilla FC are due to face Athletic Bilbao in the second round of the Spanish league very soon. Betting company 1xbet listed Sevilla FC at odds of 5.00 to win that match, with a draw priced at 3.55 and an Athletic Bilbao victory at 1.68.