Aston Villa summer efforts prompt huge contract clause – $100m now to get player

River Plate are locking Santiago Beltrán into a new contract with a $100m release clause after Aston Villa's summer interest in the 22-year-old.

Aston Villa's pursuit of Santiago Beltrán during the summer transfer window has prompted River Plate to act decisively. The Argentine club are finalizing a contract renewal with the 22-year-old that includes a $100m (£75m) release clause, designed to ward off future interest from Villa and other European clubs.

Beltrán was on Aston Villa's radar as they sought a replacement for Emiliano Martínez, who eventually joined Chelsea. Villa ultimately signed Zion Suzuki from Parma for €30m, but their interest in Beltrán persisted throughout the year, with officials visiting Argentina in September to assess him. Martínez reportedly even recommended the signing to Villa.

The release clause, while substantial on paper, is understood to serve more as a negotiating benchmark than a realistic transfer fee, given Beltrán's current market valuation of around £11m.