Cardiff City have been left stunned after Nantes demanded payment for the £15m transfer of Emiliano Sala, who is missing and feared dead, after his flight went off-radar on a journey from France to Cardiff.
The Premier League club were shocked to receive a formal letter from Nantes on Tuesday asking for payment within 10 days.
The two clubs are now embroiled in a legal dispute.
Cardiff have been left stunned after Nantes demanded the £15m payment for Emiliano Sala
Sala's plane was found this week at the bottom of the Channel after it an underwater search
Cardiff's first payment would ordinarily be due within seven days of the player signing, but the club do not intend to make any payments until the conclusion of official investigations into the causes of his disappearance.
However, Nantes made an email request last Thursday and then followed it up with a formal written request on Tuesday.
Sala’s mother, sister and brother have this week been in the company of the Argentine consular in France as investigations continued after a private plane carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson went off-radar on January 21.
Sala’s mother (M) has been with an Argentine consular as investigations continue
A body has been located in the aircraft but the two families were still to be informed of the identity as of Wednesday.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been searching the English channel for the wreckage.
An official investigation into the crash, including the pilot’s qualifications and the condition of the plane, is likely to follow.
The situation is further complicated as French club Bordeaux are also due 50 per cent of the reported £15m transfer due to a clause inserted when Sala joined Nantes in 2015.
Last week Bordeaux publicly denied that they had invoiced Nantes for their cut of the deal. When contacted by Sportsmail to establish whether they intend to pursue their fee, Bordeaux did not respond.
The Piper Malibu carrying Sala from Nantes to Cardiff vanished over Alderney on January 21
A picture of the type of plane which was supposed to deliver the striker to Cardiff safely
Cardiff are understood to be insured up to £16m but the club may still incur excess when it comes to covering the salary for the duration of Sala’s three-and-a-half-year contract and the lost revenue that was anticipated for their club record signing. This would take the overall value of the transfer to around £25m.
Nantes are responsible for paying the intermediaries involved. In November, the club enlisted the services of Mercato Ltd, the business run by Mark McKay and his father Willie, who helped organise the doomed flight. Agents Bakari Sanogo and Baba Drame are also due cuts from the Nantes side of the deal.
If the air investigation is followed by involvement from the police, it could therefore be years before the financial and legal disputes are resolved.
Wednesday, 5 December, 2018: Cardiff manager Neil Warnock first reveals his interest in signing Sala after travelling to France to watch the striker play for Nantes against Marseilles.
Thursday, 27 December: Cardiff's pursuit of Sala looks to be over after having their bid rejected by Nantes.
Tuesday, 1 January, 2019: As the January transfer window opens, Cardiff revive their interest in Sala and resume negotiations with Nantes over a fee worth around £15m.
Wednesday, 16 January: Sala starts on the bench against Nimes amid speculation around his future and comes on in the second half for what would be his last game for Nantes.
