Christmas may be over but the season of buying and selling is just beginning. The rumour mills are starting to spin now and soon, the January transfer window will open. It will just last a month but expect a frantic period ahead, as clubs move to plug gaps, reinforce their injury-hit squads and offload expensive flops. And of course, the agents will once again be eyeing big bonus cheques when desperate clubs start to pay over the odds for players.
Valencia have traditionally not moved on big transfers during this window but they may be forced to. On the radar: a right back to provide relief as Cristiano Piccini continues to recover from a long-term injury sustained in pre-season. While Daniel Wass – and Jaume Costa at times – have covered the position, coach Albert Celades prefers a specialist instead of relying on a utility man and an ageing left-back.
We will continue to keep this page updated with the latest movements.
UPDATE:
Paco Alcacer is on Valencia’s radar for 40m euros. (Bild)
Valencia have reportedly opened up talks with Milan midfielder Suso. (Radio MARCA)
Barcelona is eyeing Rodrigo, who is valued at 50 million euros by Valencia (90min)
CONFIRMED
Left-back Toni Lato heads to Osasuna after he failed to nail down a place at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the potential ins and outs:
Transfer ins:
Name: João Cancelo
Age: 25
Position: Right-back
Club: Manchester City
Transfer fee: Loan
The world’s most expensive full back may be plying his trade at the Mestalla again if Valencia owner Peter Lim gets his way. Cancelo, who made 91 appearances for Los Che from 2014 to 2018, is the club’s top target despite joining Manchester City only four months ago in a 65 million-euro transfer from Juventus. His frustration at his limited minutes, coupled with Lim’s close relationship with his agent Jorge Mendes, may see this deal through.
Name: Alessandro Florenzi
Age: 28
Position: Right-back
Club: Roma
Transfer fee: Loan with an option to buy for 15 to 20 million euros, made mandatory if Valencia reach the Champions League semi-finals or qualify for the competition next season.
Amedeo Carboni 2.0? Roma captain Florenzi could follow in his countryman’s footsteps in making the trip from Rome to Valencia this winter. The right-back has been a mainstay since he was promoted to the senior side in 2011, but Roma’s academy graduate has only started just over half the number of games this season, which puts his participation at next summer’s European Championships in jeopardy. And what better place to play regular football than at a Champions League team?
Name: Álvaro Odriozola
Age: 24
Position: Right-back
Club: Real Madrid
Transfer fee: Loan
Odriozola has been mostly warming the bench since his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2018 from Real Sociedad. Once a key player for the San Sebastián side, he is now an outsider for Los Blancos. Valencia were reportedly eyeing a deadline day loan swoop for him during the summer but nothing materialised. Second time lucky?
Name: Abel Ruiz
Age: 19
Position: Striker
Club: Barcelona B
Transfer fee: Loan/Transfer with buyback (fee not specified)
A product of Valencia’s academy, Ruiz was poached by Barcelona eight years ago having showed great promise. He has delivered this season, with three goals and two assists in 15 appearances for the reserve side. However, he has only turned out once for the senior side in his entire stay with the Catalans. With Kevin Gameiro possibly leaving (more below), Valencia might pounce on a young and affordable option up front.
Transfer outs:
Name: Thierry Correia
Age: 20
Position: Right-back
It is safe to say Correia’s Valencia career has not started in ideal fashion. With Piccini on the sidelines, it was the perfect opportunity for the young Portuguese to cement a place in the starting lineup. However, Celades has made it clear that he is not ready for regular LaLiga or Champions League action yet and wants him to leave on loan. But with a release clause of 100 million euros showing how highly-rated he is, Correia is not leaving permanently anytime soon – at least not for cheap.
Name: Kevin Gameiro
Age: 32
Position: Striker
France striker Gameiro has garnered interest from French side Lyon, who are also in the last 16 of the Champions League with Valencia. The former Atletico Madrid man sealed his place in Valencian hearts when he scored a goal against Barcelona in last season’s Copa del Rey final to help Valencia lift the title. This season, he has had to contend with new recruit Maxi Gomez, who made a bright start to life with six goals in 15 LaLiga appearances. While he is keen to stay, Valencia may be open to recouping some of the 16 million euros they paid Atletico for the forward in 2018.
Name: Ezequiel Garay
Age: 32
Position: Centre-back
Another veteran wanted by Lyon, Garay is out of contract in the summer and would be an affordable option for the French team. However, contract negotiations between the Argentinian and Valencia are ongoing and it is highly likely that he will sign an extension. Garay has been immense this season beside Gabriel Paulista and adds some steel into a sometimes shaky defence. Celades would not want to lose an experienced defender during the crucial second half of the season and it would be a mistake to let him go on a free at the end of the season.
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