Liverpool told to pay £130m release clause as Genk chief admits shock at Brughmans deal

Liverpool have been told there will be no discount on Bournemouth winger Rayan despite manager Andoni Iraola’s close ties with the player, with the Brazilian’s £130m release clause set to become active in 2027 — a fee the club are reportedly highly unlikely to meet.

According to ESPN Brazil, Bournemouth will not reduce their asking price for the 20-year-old regardless of Iraola’s previous relationship with him during his time at the Vitality Stadium. Rayan is contracted to the Cherries until 2031, and the report states he will remain at the club if the full release clause is not triggered. The Daily Mail notes that Liverpool have just paid Paris Saint-Germain £123m for Bradley Barcola, making another nine-figure outlay in the near term unlikely.

Separately, Genk’s director of football Dimitri de Conde has spoken candidly about his surprise at the pace of Liverpool’s £30m move for teenage goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans at the end of the summer transfer window. Brughmans, who had also attracted interest from Real Madrid, has been loaned straight back to Genk for the season and is viewed at Anfield as a potential long-term successor to Alisson.

“I knew he was on the radar of top clubs, that he’d even visited Real Madrid,” de Conde said via Sport Witness. “And that he was one of the lads we hoped to get a handsome fee for at some point, to ensure the club’s survival. But for it to happen that quickly and for that amount, I never saw that coming.”

Brughmans has started every game for Genk so far this season as the Belgian side sit ninth in the Pro League after six matches.

On the pitch, Liverpool head into Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth unbeaten in the Premier League under Iraola but with three draws from their opening four games — two of which required late equalisers. A midweek Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, built largely on contributions from younger squad members, offered the Spaniard some encouragement and fresh selection options as he prepares for his first return to his former club.

Iraola also moved to defend Florian Wirtz this week amid scrutiny over the German playmaker’s form, saying he was “very happy” with him and rates him “very highly” — though questions persist over whether the club’s record signing is yet justifying his fee.