FC CINCINNATI’S general manager Gerard Nijkamp has revealed they will not take up to option to buy Brighton striker Jurgen Locadia.

The 27-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan at the MLS side but has only managed to scored three goals in 24 appearances.

But Locadia has not come cheap as he currently earns $2.5 million a year at Cincinnati, which makes him the joint seventh-highest earner in the MLS with Inter Miami’s Rodolfo Pizarro.

That means he earns $52,000 a week.

Only Atlanta’s Josef Martinez ($3.5 million), Toronto’s Alejandro Pozuelo ($3.8 million), LAFC’s Carlos Vela ($4.5 million), Miami’s Gonzalo Higuain ($5.1 million) and LA Galaxy’s Javier Hernandez($6 million) earn more.

But with the Dutchman taking up one of the international spots within Cincinatti’s roster, which can be valued as high as $500,000, Locadia is effectively costing them up to $3 million a year.

But Nijkamp revealed yesterday morning that Cincinnati will not be taking up the option to buy Locadia, despite it being part of the loan deal they have in place with Albion.

He told the Cincinnati Enquirer: "I spoke last week with Brighton, of course, when I was there. 

"We will not exercise his option. That is clear, but the door is still a little bit open if there are other ways, maybe, to consider from our side to keep Jürgen."

However, Nijkamp said the door is not closed on Locadia.

He said: "The door is not closed 100-percent but I think also it will be difficult.

He added: "If Jurgen was scoring 10 goals, 12 goals then (it would be) for him very hard to understand why we have still the discussion about Jurgen staying or not, but that is not the case." 

Locadia will now hope to finish his loan spell in style in order to try an impress any potential suitors with him unlikely to work his way into Graham Potter’s plans for next season especially if they sign another striker during the summer.