New rumor: Villarreal pursuing Alassane Plea

Time to report another rumor: Villarreal are allegedly interested in Alassane Pléa.  He currently plays for Nice in Ligue Un, can play both as a winger and a striker.  Pléa holds dual Malian and French nationality; he's been a French youth international.

The interest seems likely, yes (West Ham are apparently interested as well), but doing a deal might be difficult.  Pléa is under contract at Nice until 2019 and his release clause is apparently €40m.  No way we would pay anywhere close to that--I suspect €8m plus variables would be as high as we would go, maybe?

Also, Pléa was out from late September to mid-February last year with a ruptured cruciate ligament.  He came back strong and played regularly after that, though.  He scored 6 goals in 19 appearances for Nice, which is not bad considering the general defensive focus of the French league these days.

So: is the interest likely?  Yes.  Is anything likely to happen?  Not unless the €40m release clause is a smokescreen and Nice are happy to let him go for something more like €8-10m.