Cardiff extend deadline over Sala payment

Cardiff and French club Nantes have agreed to extend the deadline on the first instalment of Emiliano Sala's transfer fee until February 27.

Cardiff had been asked to make the first payment of 6 million euros ($A9.5 million) to Nantes on February 20, but it is understood the clubs have agreed a delay of one week.

Sala was killed when the private plane bringing him to Cardiff crashed into the English Channel on January 21, just two days after his record move to the Premier League club.

The 28-year-old body's was recovered from the crash site and his funeral - attended by both Cardiff and Nantes officials - took place in his native Argentina last Saturday. His pilot, David Ibbotson, remains missing, presumed dead.

In the weeks since Sala's disappearance, the two clubs have been at odds over what has threatened to escalate into a bitter dispute.

Nantes' lawyers wrote to Cardiff on February 5 asking for the first of three annual payments for the player, as was agreed last month, to be paid within 10 working days.

Cardiff, however, have made it clear they want to wait until the investigation into the crash is complete.