Meriton Korenica, a 29-year-old winger for CFR Cluj, is nearing a departure from the club, which has set his sale price amid serious financial issues. Selling Korenica could provide crucial funds for the struggling Ardeal club.
As CFR Cluj readies for the upcoming season, it must offload several players to maintain financial viability. Korenica is viewed as a potential export, along with teammate Lorenzo Biliboc.
Universitatea Craiova has already made an initial offer of €600,000, which was rejected by Cluj. Reports suggest that Korenica’s asking price is set at €1,000,000, though Cluj’s president, Varga, may be willing to negotiate down to €800,000 along with a 20% cut of any future transfer fee.
This development could represent a significant opportunity for Craiova, who have invested nearly €5 million this summer on players such as Răzvan Sava and Simon Elisor. Korenica is valued at €3 million on transfermarkt.
Further negotiations are expected after Craiova’s two-legged match against Levski. The situation surrounding player Ștefan Baiaram, who is attracting interest from Anderlecht, also factors into Craiova’s plans.
The urgency for CFR Cluj to sell players stems from mounting financial obligations. The club is facing delays in salary payments and must clear €1.4 million by Tuesday to avoid jeopardizing their participation in European competitions next season. They have received a grace period from UEFA, but failure to pay could result in significant penalties.
CFR Cluj’s Financial Dilemma
CFR Cluj’s leadership has identified multiple players, including Korenica, Lorenzo Biliboc, Simao Rocha, and Andrei Cordea, as potential transfers if the team cannot secure a spot in the Conference League.
The club has recently made several signings, including Marian Huja from Pogon Szczecin and Yuval Sade from Maccabi Netanya, as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
