Liverpool negotiates with Oviedo for Hassan's transfer for less than 12 million

Liverpool has begun talks with Real Oviedo to sign Haissem Hassan, a 24-year-old Egyptian winger, and hopes to finalise the transfer for a figure below the 12 million euros of his release clause. Glasgow Celtic is also bidding for the player.

Liverpool has opened negotiations with Real Oviedo to acquire Haissem Hassan, the 24-year-old Egyptian winger who shone in the World Cup. The English club aims to pay less than the 12 million euros set by his release clause, taking advantage of the Asturian team's relegation to the Second Division.

Oviedo's stance: clause or agreement

Real Oviedo refers to the agreed clause and does not consider discounts outside of a direct agreement with the buyer. Hassan arrived at Tartiere in the summer of 2024 from Villarreal, which still retains a percentage of any future sale. He renewed until June 2027, and before the World Cup, his value was estimated at 6 million, a figure the club now considers surpassed after his performance against Argentina.

For Oviedo, selling Hassan would provide financial relief in the Second Division, but they aim to maximise profit. The club's management knows that interest from the Premier League could drive up the bidding.

Celtic enters the bidding

Glasgow Celtic has been following Hassan since before the World Cup and is preparing an offer of between 7 and 8 million euros, still far from the clause. This is not the first time another club has bid for him: offers from Turkey were rejected as insufficient. Now the Scottish club will compete with the Premier League project that Liverpool offers.

For Celtic, Hassan's arrival would mean a quality reinforcement for the Champions League, while Liverpool sees him as an offensive replacement following the departures of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa and the farewell of Mohamed Salah.

The World Cup as a springboard

Hassan was one of Egypt's best players in the round of 16 against Argentina, providing an assist to Mostafa Ziko in a disallowed goal and showcasing his dribbling skills. That performance, his seventh international cap, sparked European interest. He is a vertical and unbalancing winger on the right, ideal for Liverpool's offensive reconstruction.

Oviedo will have to decide whether to accept a reduction on the 12 million or wait for someone to pay the full clause before the market closes. For fans, the question is whether Hassan will wear red or green, and if Oviedo will achieve a record transfer in the Second Division.