Alaves sporting director Sergio Fernandez has said any club interested in Guillermo Maripan must pay the player’s €25m (£22m) release clause.

West Ham have been heavily linked with the La Liga defender, with the Chilean international even stating he is open to a move to England.

However, Fernandez has taken a hardline stance on Maripan’s sale by stating:

“If a club wants Maripan, they must pay his termination clause of €25m.”

Whether that has put an end to the Hammers’ interest in the 25-year-old, we shall have to wait and see.

Previous reports have suggested that the London club have placed a £9.5m (€10.6m) offer on the table for Maripan, but that appears to be way off Alaves’s asking price.

It was hoped that Lucas Perez’s €2.5m sale to the Spanish club would have greased the wheels for negotiations but so far, Alaves have refused to lower their valuation.

The Spanish club conceded 50 goals in 38 league games last campaign with Maripan making 23 appearances before a sprained ankle ended his season prematurely.