Cardiff Assure Nantes Sala Transfer Fee Will Be Paid

By Max Wise

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has assured French club Nantes they will still pay the £15 million transfer fee for striker Emiliano Sala who has been missing since January 21.

The development comes after reports emerged on Wednesday that Nantes were considering legal action against Cardiff for their failure to fulfill their part of the bargain within 10 days.

Cardiff City’s arrangement with Nantes means that the Bluebirds are supposed to pay an initial £5.27m over three installments.

Sala was flying from France to England, alongside David Ibbotson, to join up with his new team, days after completing his signing, when the Piper Malibu N264DB crashed into the sea along the English channel.

The light plane has been found 67 metres underwater, 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the Channel with the search party retrieving a dead body in it.

The body is yet to be identified, but Cardiff City has served notice they will go ahead with the payment plan made with Nantes 'but at the right time.'

"The only thing I can say, because it is a sensitive subject, is that I confirm that what you are saying [that Cardiff haven't paid the first installment] is true," he told L'Equipe.

"And to be honest, I do not want to say anything more at this time."

When asked why they are yet to pay, Dalman added: "The first reason is that the body has not been recovered yet."

"We must show respect to the family. There is a process for recovering the plane. It's too early for us to comment."

"[We will pay] when we think it's the right time to do it.

"I don't think Cardiff said we were not going to pay."