Contract negotiations between Atletico Madrid and first-choice shot-stopper Jan Oblak are reportedly at an impasse, with the capital city club hoping to include a lucrative buyout fee.
Oblak put pen to paper on terms in 2016 that raised his buyout fee from €45 million to €100 million, with the Evening Standard's Ben Hayward reporting that Atletico is hoping to tie-down the Slovenian for the long-term while also dissuading any interested parties by increasing the buyout figure.
Hayward adds that both Liverpool and Chelsea inquired about the 25-year-old's services before subsequently smashing the world-record fee for a 'keeper with the signings of Alisson and Kepa Arrizabalaga in the summer.
One thing that could provide an obstacle for Atletico is a dearth of funds after several summer expenditures. Antoine Griezmann signed a new deal, while roughly €115 million was splashed for the likes of Thomas Lemar, Rodri, Nikola Kalinic, and Santiago Arias. That leaves little left for new deals for Oblak, Diego Godin, and Filipe Luis. According to Hayward, both Godin and Luis are unhappy with their respective negotiations.
Obalk, whose current deal lapses in 2021, has become one of world football's preeminent shot-stoppers following a €16-million move from Benfica in 2014.
