Carlos Vicente Draws Premier League Interest

 

Deportivo Alavés’ emerging winger Carlos Vicente has become one of La Liga’s most talked-about players in the latest transfer news. Spanish media report that Alavés has made it clear Vicente will only leave if his €20 million release clause is activated. The 26-year-old Aragon-born winger – who helped Alavés retain its top-flight status with 5 goals and 5 assists in 37 games last season – is said to have caught the eye of several Premier League clubs. Rumors linking him to English teams have swirled in the past 48 hours, with at least four clubs reportedly monitoring the situation: Liverpool, Brentford, Leicester City, and newly-promoted Birmingham City. Alavés officials, however, insist they will only part with their star winger if a suitor meets that high €20M price tag. From a tactical standpoint, Vicente is an explosive right-winger known for his pace, dribbling and versatility. After arriving from Racing de Ferrol for just €600k in 2024, he quickly cemented a first-team place under coach Eduardo Coudet. The club’s sporting director has emphasized Vicente’s importance: “El futbolista solo se irá si pagan su cláusula de 20 millones de euros,” he said – in other words, Vicente will only leave if his €20M release clause is paid. Indeed, Vicente’s contract runs through 2027, so Alavés is under no pressure to sell cheaply. The board considers this summer a pivotal moment: either the clause is met or the club will have one of its most promising talents locked in for next season.

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Player Profile: Season-by-Season Impact

Carlos Vicente (age 26) broke into Alavés’ side in early 2024 and has become a key attacker. In the just-completed 2024/25 campaign he featured in 37 league matches, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists. Those numbers came on the back of just 5 goals and 5 assists in the previous year, signaling steady development. His contributions were pivotal to Alavés avoiding relegation. Scouts describe Vicente as a “pure winger” profile – lightning-fast down the flank, comfortable cutting inside or stretching defenses – fitting the mold of players often targeted by Premier League teams. Alavés coach Eduardo Coudet has praised Vicente’s work rate and impact on the team, viewing him as a “piece important for my system.” The club’s press release on June 11 highlighted his role in the team’s success and noted that “his performances did not go unnoticed in England.”

Despite still being relatively early in his career, Vicente’s stock is rising. He has a very affordable contract from the perspective of big clubs: his market value is around €4 million (per Transfermarkt), but his release clause is €20 million. This five-fold difference makes him an attractive target – essentially, an English team could secure a proven La Liga winger at a bargain price. As one transfer outlet put it, Vicente’s €20M buyout “could ease his move to a major club,” given his low acquisition cost (600k) and modest salary. In short, Vicente represents a young talent whose underlying potential far exceeds his current price – the classic profile of a mid-tier La Liga player primed for a big move.

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Premier League Interest: Which Clubs Are Watching?

In recent days several Premier League clubs have been linked to Vicente. Reports from Spain mention that Brentford and Liverpool have already made inquiries about him. Brentford in particular “preguntó condiciones” (asked about terms) for the winger, reflecting the club’s penchant for recruiting young, hungry talent. Liverpool is also said to have him “en carpeta” (on their radar) as they assess options to refresh their attack, especially with aging forwards like Mohamed Salah. English journalist Raúl Cabrera noted last October that teams like Liverpool, Leicester City and Brentford were all monitoring Vicente’s progress, and those links are resurfacing now as the summer window approaches.
Indeed, the most recent reports highlight Liverpool, Brentford, and Leicester City as potential suitors. Leicester – a club known for unearthing and developing talent – reportedly sees Vicente as “an investment opportunity” given his low cost and high upside. Brentford (the Premier League “moneyball” team) and Liverpool (a perennial top-six club) have long had the scouting networks to spot someone of his profile. In fact, one transfer summary explicitly mentioned, “Liverpool is always seeking young talent to complement its powerful attack, while Leicester City and Brentford have also shown interest.” Although those reports are a few months old, the situation clearly remains active: Vicente’s name continues to pop up on English pundits’ lists of emerging La Liga stars.
Crucially, a surprising contender has emerged: Birmingham City, recently promoted to the Premier League with famous co-owner Tom Brady. According to the same June 11 report, Birmingham have the financial firepower to meet Vicente’s clause, thanks to the “economic injection” from their new ownership. The article notes that “the historic English club [Birmingham], with NFL legend Tom Brady as a co-owner and powerful businessmen behind it, has sufficient economic backing to pay the release clause.” In other words, no club named Wolves or Alavés – instead, it’s newly wealthy Birmingham City who might pony up.

To summarize the reported links:

• Liverpool (England) – High-profile Premier League side, looking for young wing options.

• Brentford (England) – Premier League club known for smart talent scouting; already asked Alavés about Vicente.

• Leicester City (England) – Top-six club in recent history, also monitoring young La Liga stars.

• Birmingham City (England) – Newly-promoted club with wealthy ownership (including Tom Brady); rumored to have the funds to trigger Vicente’s €20M clause.

Each of these teams fits a profile: they have the sporting motive and/or financial means to pursue a player like Vicente. The link with Birmingham is the newest development (and perhaps the boldest), highlighted specifically by Alavés’ sporting director in his public statement. The other clubs’ interest comes through Spanish media channels, and while not officially confirmed by the clubs, it underlines the strong demand for Vicente in England.

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Alavés’ Position and Outlook

Through it all, Alavés has maintained a consistent stance. The club’s director Sergio Fernández has publicly reiterated that Vicente will remain at Mendizorroza unless a suitor meets the €20M clause. This firm position is backed by the fact that Vicente still has two years left on his contract. Unless a bidder activates the clause outright, Alavés prefers to keep him and possibly negotiate a sale on their terms. The media report emphasizes that Alavés “is betting that he will stay next season,” partly because the club might lose another key player (midfielder Antonio Blanco) for a big fee. In other words, the club is calculating how best to balance its books and on-field performance, and Vicente is viewed as too important to sell cheaply.
Financially, the €20M clause is a high number for Alavés: the article notes that it is “a high amount for a low-spending market.” (By comparison, Vicente’s own market value is a fraction of that amount.) But by setting the clause so high, Alavés has effectively set a price tag on Vicente’s future. Any English club that wants him will have to pay up or risk losing the deal entirely. In practice, it means any transfer will have to be a major sale – not a bargain shopping spree for Alavés. As one local journalist put it, Alavés has “impuesto condiciones” (imposed conditions) on Vicente, making sure the player stays unless the full clause is met.
Looking ahead to the transfer window, all eyes will be on negotiations. If none of the linked clubs bite at €20M, Vicente will stay in Vitoria next season – giving Alavés the continuity of a player who “has consolidated as an important piece” of their attack. If, however, any team comes close enough (or preferably meets) the clause, Alavés will reap a significant windfall. Given recent history (they rejected €15M for Villarreal’s Francisco Feuillassier and insisted on €20M last January), it’s possible no deal will happen until someone actually offers €20M or more.
From a sporting angle, selling Vicente could impact Alavés’ performance. The article underscores that losing him would leave a “gap” in Coudet’s lineup – he is described as someone who “encaja en el perfil de la Premier” and whose presence was key to staying up. His combination of goals, assists and work rate would be hard to replace. On the other hand, the €20M could fund multiple reinforcements in areas of need. Indeed, the same news outlet runs several pieces discussing possible replacements and how Alavés might invest any transfer income (such as looking at new midfielders if Blanco departs).
In sum, the latest rumor is that Vicente’s name is prominent in the summer market for English clubs, but Alavés is playing hardball. In the next few weeks we expect either a formal offer to meet the clause, or a period of speculation until a club decides it can pay. This story exemplifies the dynamic of transfer fever – a smaller club managing its assets carefully while big clubs search for talent. For Alavés fans, the hope will be that Vicente either stays to help the team next season or that his sale brings in funds to strengthen the squad.