Winter transfer window rumours: Koba sold? Mir in?

 Over the last 10 years, Valencia's January additions have been a mixed to disappointing bag.

2015: Enzo Perez
2016: Cheryshev, Siquiera
2017: Zaza, Orellana
2018: Coquelin, Vietto
2019: Sobrino, Roncaglia
2020: Florenzi
2021: Cutrone, Ferro, Oliva
2022: Bryan Gil, Comert, Moriba
2023: no one

"Anyone remember me?"

With a few exceptions like Zaza and Coquelin most of the additions haven't improved the side much, with the very forgettable 2021 trio being a classic case in point. In that context it's best to keep our expectations low, indeed it wouldn't be a massive shock if, like last year, we signed no one.

On the positive side, for all their flaws, Meriton has resisted the temptation to move key players out in the winter window, preferring to wait until summer. Daniel Wass has probably been the highest profile player moved out and even then he was in his last half year of contract so cashing in wasn't the worst move.

As of now, the players the club are most interested in moving on are at least one of the defensive trio of Cenk, Diakhaby and Paulista. With players like Mosquera and Gasiorowski coming through it's felt that someone can go in defence.

Some of the criticism of Cenk goes way too far, I've seen "worse than Aderllan Santos" and nonsense like that. His stats and performances last season were acceptable. What was dubious was the club's decision to pay 5m for him when other positions were a bigger priority and retaining Kluivert would have made more sense. Cenk has also had a poor season. The problem is that no offers are forthcoming.

Paulista presents the club with a problem. He's an experienced player who's had a satisfactory season. His contract is due to expire in the summer but there is a clause that says that if he plays 7 more league games (at least 45 minutes in each) then he automatically renews for another season. He's been a loyal club servant who's stuck with the club through bad times, but the problem is that he's on a much higher salary than most of the squad. With his injuries and the fact he's now 33 it is probably time to say thanks and bye. 

As in August, Valencia's main target is Rafa Mir. As I reported then the problem was Sevilla's high asking price, originally €14m, later reducing to €8-9m, covering Mir's €3.4m a year salary and Sevilla insisting on a compulsory buy clause in the loan, with Valencia wanting an option. Fast forward 5 months and Sevilla's hand is much weaker. They're in financial difficulties, facing a tough relegation battle, on their 3rd permanent coach of the season and needing to move players out to make additions. Also Mir, whether it's because he doesn't want to be there or not or for another reason, hasn't had a great season. Sevilla now want €2m for a loan (to cover wages mainly) with €6m to buy Mir. Valencia are still pushing for this to be optional.

You might ask, if Mir is playing badly, why bother? The reason is that Baraja wants a physical striker to compete up front. He and Mir know each other well from Baraja's time managing the youth team and so he would need no adaptation. Really, if we could get a loan with a buy option, I'd trust Baraja on this as it wouldn't hurt to have extra competition up front.

The club's position is that there's no money until someone moves out, but there's now a lifeline. Koba Koindredi may go to Sporting in Portugal for 6 to 7 million (a figure that may drop if Valencia retain a sell-on clause.) If we got that money it would clear the way for Mir. Really the whole thing has Mendes written all over it but there don't seem to be any other moves in the pipeline. Valencia, as usual, dropped the ball on Carlos Vicente, one of the better players in Segunda this season, who would have come for 600,000, but the club dallied too long with its penny pinching and the result was that he signed for Alaves instead.

Valencia sign Amallah

Valencia have confirmed the addition of Selim Amallah, who becomes the 4th player to join us in the summer transfer window, counting Cenk. Amallah is mainly an attacking midfielder, but can also play central midfield or left wing. He joined Valladolid back in January and managed 2 goals in his 7 appearances, reasonable for a relegated club. He's the first Moroccan player at the club since Munir in 2016-17, though he also has Belgian citizenship, having been born there, so doesn't take up a non-EU spot.

Valencia paid 150,000 for his loan and have a buy option of 7.5 million. After the foolishness of developing players like Kluivert and Lino for other clubs last season without realistic buy options, Valencia have smartened up in this window. 

The club still has hopes of adding 1 or 2 players before the window closes late on Friday. Chief importance is a forward after Cavani and Marcos Andre's exits. The problem is that, after dallying all summer, there are less than 70 hours left. The Rafa Mir deal seems to have fallen through. The main issue seems to be that Sevilla were ready to sell him, but wanted cash and a definite sale, while Valencia were only offering a loan with buy option, which wouldn't guarantee Sevilla funds to get a replacement. Valencia don't want to splash the cash, preferring a "try before you buy" approach. The club's main plan B is now rumoured to be Colombian Rafael Borre, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt. He'd an ok first season for them with 8 in 31 league games, plus 4 in 8 in Europe, but his form dropped off last year with just 2 goals in 32 league games. People who've watched him seem to rate him ok, but these scoring statistics don't excite me. 

A winger is the 2nd wish from the club and we will see what happens there. There has been no more news on Ivan Jaime and previous windows have seen players (often from the Mendes stable) emerge out of nowhere at the last minute.

Transfer updates: Cömert and André to leave, Mir and Amallah pending

Valencia has got closer to its objective of clearing our unwanted players in recent days. It looks like Marcos André is on his way back to Valladolid. Valencia will receive 2 million and transfer 40% of the rights they own (Valladolid still had 10%), so Valencia will receive half of any future transfer. Thus ends yet another awful transfer of the Lim era. Valencia paid 9 million for the player and worse, pushed out Kangin Lee to make way for him. There are occasions on which Valencia's fanbase have been divided over a transfer, but this was one where no one was excited in the first place. Even with low expectations, he managed to hugely disappoint. 46 games played in the league and a shockingly bad 2 goals. To put that in context, Paulista has 3 in 40 games over the last 2 seasons, while Diakhaby got 3 in 29 games last season. Those are figures which almost make Ruben Sobrino look good. 

Also out the door is Cömert.

He joined for a less financially ruinous 800,000 in January 2022. He had a poor start and looked out of his depth. However, last season, pre-world cup he significantly improved, looking much more competent under Gattuso. During this time, he scored his only goal for the club, unintentional as it was, putting the ball back into the box and fluking a 96th minute equaliser after André has put the game in danger by being idiotically sent off. He goes on loan to Nantes, who had a 3 million buy option, which looks reasonable.

The last player Valencia are looking to move out is Samu Castillejo. He did ok last season after joining on a free, but as with many his form tailed off after the world cup and there are rumours of lack of professionalism and that he likes the Valencia nightlife scene a bit too much. With no offers coming in, Valencia have made an offer of 450,000 for him to rescind his contract, but the player is demanding a million.

With those first 2 deals done, there was expectation that the Rafa Mir deal could finally be closed and Valencia upped their offer yesterday to meet Sevilla's asking price. However, Sevilla then threw a spanner in the works, with their sporting director announcing that he expected Mir to stay for the season. There a few things going on here. First, Mir scored a really good goal in Sevilla's last game. It's possible, but unlikely, that that has given Sevilla second thoughts. More likely is that Sevilla are just chancing their arm, trying to squeeze more money out of Valencia. By delaying the deal past the weekend Sevilla will know that they also hurt a rival like Valencia by denying them a player for now.  A further factor is the En Nesyri situation. West Ham have made an offer to Sevilla and if he goes there then they may keep Mir due to lack of forward options. However, they've added Dodi Lukebakio and are said to be close to signing Alkmaar's Vangelis Pavlidis. With Mir trying to force an exit, I still think he'll end up with us, but it's frustrating that the deal may go to deadline day. Valencia still haven't ruled out signing alternatives and Lucas Boye of Elche and Borja Majoral of Getafe are plan Bs.

What this doesn't help is Valencia's pursuit of Selim Amallah. Apparently negotiations on that finished about a month ago, with Valencia managing to get Valladolid to lower the buy option from 10 million to 6 million. The problem is that Valencia have been waiting for departures and the player is naturally getting fed up of waiting around. To add to the difficulties, Celta have now entered the race for the player. With Gabri Veiga set to go to Saudi for around 40 million, Celta will have the cash to pay outright, which could scupper the deal for Valencia. Celta have also been linked with Maksimovic of Getafe for 6-7 million, which would be far better for Valencia, as we still own 30% of the player. One possibility if Maksimovic did go north is that Getafe could give Mayoral to us in exchange for cash and the 30% Maksimovic cash.

As always, we never seem to get business done in a timely way, which always costs us and I expect this year we'll be waiting until the final day. It would not be a surprise to see some unexpected loanees (probably linked to Mendes) end up here at the last minute either.

Sergi Canós official, Mir next?

So finally, Valencia have officially confirmed the signing of Sergi Canós, who joins for €250,000 on a 4-year contract with a release clause of €100 million. He was ready to join 2 months ago and had turned down better offers from multiple clubs to wait for Valencia, but the club's penny pinching meant it took until now to get the deal done. It's really embarrassing that, after spending €117m in his first year as owner (equivalent to €155 million today) on just 4 players (Negredo, Rodrigo, Enzo Perez and Abdennour), Lim is now resorting to scrooging and arguing over pennies on the dollar. 

Anyway, as I said in a previous post he will bring a decent amount to the table for a mid-table club (I don't think he'd have seen many games in any of Marcelino's teams.) Experience, ability to play in multiple positions and a love for the club. If there's a small worry, it's that he missed 13 games last season due to injuries, though that seems a one-off as he was available for all games the 3 seasons before that.

Valencia's attentions now turn to Rafa Mir. He gets on well with Baraja due to working together at youth level and wants to come back. I'm not hugely excited about him but he at least would be an experienced target man, we badly need an extra body up front and if he could get to double figures in goals that would help. The sticking point for now is, as ever, money. Valencia have agreed to cover his €3.4m annual salary. Sevilla have put a buy option of €8-9 million in which Valencia have agreed to. (It's a reasonable reduction from the €14m originally suggested.) The big point of disagreement is that Sevilla want Valencia to cover  €2m amortisation costs to help their financial fair play. Valencia have refused. Sevilla are allegedly offering a reduction in the buy option to €6-7 million in exchange. The clubs don't seem that far apart so with all parties wanting the deal to happen it most probably will, though Valencia are looking at other options as well with Elche's Lucas Boyé said to be next choice. 

Another option that has emerged is Iván Jaime. He's mainly a left winger, but also plays attacking midfield and right wing. He's a Malaga youth product who's played the last 3 seasons in Portugal with Famalicao. Last season was a breakout for him, emerging as the club's top scorer and being named as Young Player of the Year in the Portuguese League. He sounds like he could be a good addition though it would probably be as usual on loan to begin with.

Sergi Canós close to joining; Račić close to leaving

Various reliable sources are reporting that Sergi Canós is close to a done deal, with Lim finally giving the ok and the clubs exchanging documentation.

Canós grew up just up the road from Valencia in the south of Castellon province in a Valencia-supporting family, has supported Valencia all his life and names David Villa as his idol. That's all positive since he's well motivated to come. Valencia were interested in adding him to the academy when he was 12, but he joined Barcelona instead before switching to Liverpool's academy.

 He's good experience with most of his career spent in England and a couple of seasons in the top flight for Brentford, making over 200 appearances for them in the top two levels and scoring their first ever Premier League goal. He is predominantly a winger, mainly on the right but has also been used as left winger, attacking midfield, right wing back and second striker. A useful utility player in other words. Baraja had targetted him since the early summer but it's only now that Lim has given the ok, with Valencia due to pay 250k.

What has helped unlock the deal is that Račić seems gone. He was spotted in Valencia airport today apparently on his way to sign for Sassuolo in Italy for a fee which various sources put between 1 million and 3 million. 

He joined us from Belgrade in 2018 for 2.2 million, but with the midfield then including Parejo, Kondogbia, Coquelin, Soler and Wass, his chances were limited. It was only after Lim gutted the midfield in 2020 that he finally got his chance, playing nearly 60 league games over the next two seasons under Gracia and Bordalas, with his only league goal a memorable one against Atletico. However, he's spent most of his 5 years with us on loan and various coaches just don't seem to rate him for reasons that aren't clear. (Performances in training? Attitude? We will never know.)

Hopefully Valencia can get the Canós deal closed then the next in line are Selim Amallah in midfield and Rafa Mir up front. We badly need to expand the squad and get in experienced players.

Valencia are sinking and the captain has abandoned ship

The 2022-2023 season was a disaster. Things started well with Gattuso, but as so often happens, it was just false hope and his inexperience meant he couldn't turn things around when results started dropping. The world cup break also didn't help, with players like Cavani poor afterwards and Gattuso quitting, admitting he was clueless to turn things around. The jury is still very much out on Baraja. The club escaped relegation by the skin of its teeth. Literally an injury time goal is all that separates us from planning our first season in the Segunda since the mid-80s. And don't listen to our fans who weirdly think relegation would be a magic solution, forcing Lim out. He'd probably stay and whether he went or not, a financial hole would become the Mariana Trench.

The problems are obvious: a squad with weaknesses all over, now made worse by the disappearance of the players who were here on loan. Ok, Moriba was meh, but Nico, after alienating fans with an ill-advised interview, improved in the last few games. The biggest losses are Kluivert and Lino. Kluivert would have been a good prospect to add, but instead the club whistled in the wind while he went to Bournemouth for 8 million. Lino occasionally gets linked with a return but allegedly the player has said he doesn't want to come back and who can blame him? The transfer window started ok. The club signed Cenk permanently. I got no problem with that, since he looks like a player who can grow. Pepelu was also picked up from Levante for 5m with Canos reported to be imminent, but that was a month ago and things have frozen since then. Our first game against Sevilla away is only 17 days from now and we have a squad worse than the one that just about stayed up. Any thoughts that relegation would be a wake-up call for Lim and co have been smashed.

Right now, with Lim refusing to spend anything, the club needs departures. Cavani, Castillejo, Marcos Andre and Racic are top of the list to go. I'd keep Racic, but Baraja doesn't seem to rate him. Cavani would likely be for free. Valencia are also looking to sell Musah. Milan have offered 18 million but Lim is refusing and asking for 25 million. On the one hand I like that the club are finally not gifting players, but on the other where was this attitude with people like Parejo and Kondogbia etc? Mamardashvili's future is also up in the air and Paulista, as one of the highest earners is either expected to go or take a wage cut. None of the rest seem certain either, Thierry has been linked with the exit as well. The club probably needs about 7 signings including 3 wingers, a midfielder and 2 forwards, probably a defender too. These should have been added earlier, to have them train with the team, get used to the playing style etc, but as usual that's too much like common sense for Meriton.

Apart from Canos, the names mostly strongly linked are Rafa Mir and Selim Amallah. The 2nd wouldn't cost much as Valladolid got relegated, probably a loan to start with buy option and both he and Canos would improve the squad. Rafa Mir is the most head scratching one, since the club are pleading poverty but talking about paying around 14 million all in for him. Baraja likes him from working with him at youth level but after being ruined by Nuno when he pushed him into the team too quickly his career has been meh. He's struggled to get 10 goals a season and seems more like the profile of people like Maxi Gomez or Cavani, players who struggled here and didn't get service. Paying that much when we're hard up seems like a huge risk to me. The issue with him is the same as in 2015: we seem to be doing this as a favour to Mendes, his agent, rather than what's best for the club. (Cyle Larin is going for 8m, why not spend that on him instead?) Overall, there's also the issue that all three want to come but like Kluivert, will not wait around forever while Valencia dawdle.

With an ownership that clearly don't care, it's really hard to get any enthusiasm for the team right now. Usually I'd be looking forward to the season and seeing how new players work out but not this time. I'm expecting another hard season. We deserve better.

Valencia CF target midfielder Sergi Canos

Valencia CF have inquired about Brentford midfielder Sergi Canos. Valencia CF are willing to purchase the player for a sum of 1 million euros. Brentford will be okay with such a low sum because his contract expires this summer and getting any sum over losing his for free is a benefit. 

Canos transferred to Brentford in 2017, for whom he had previously played on loan from Liverpool during the 2015–16 season. He's made over 200 appearances for Brentford, but has struggled for playing time this season and with his contract running out this summer he could be on his way out. He's scored over 30 goals for Brentford and has played various positions from central midfielder to attacker. 

He is 25 years of age and has a lot more playing time in him, he is at that age where his prime is just beginning, so maybe he could return to form at Valencia CF. He is a versatile player and can cover multiple positions. 

Goncalo Guedes wants a return to Valencia CF

Goncalo Guedes is another option for Valencia CF to take on loan as Wolves have listed the player on the transfer market. They want to sell the player and recuperate some of the money they spent on him, but bidders are in short supply this transfer window as clubs have tightened their purses and are looking at cheaper options with Wolves wanting somewhere in the region of 25 to 30 million euros for Goncalo Guedes.

Another option would be for them to loan out the player in order for him to regain some of his market value and what better destination than Valencia CF where the player got his recognition from. Goncalo Guedes also wants a return to Valencia CF and Gattuso wants a winger to strengthen Valencia's attack and provide more cover for the position.

In case you haven't been following Guedes after his departure from Valencia CF, he hasn't celebrated himself at his new club, in fact it's been going really downhill for him. He started good enough for Wolves and he was a starter at the start of the season, but they weren't getting a lot of good results and Guedes had failed to provide many goals or assists and slowly but surely, he went out of favor with his initial coach. Bruno Lage was then fired due to a string of poor results, but this didn't change Guedes's fortune, he didn’t feature all that much under interim manager Steve Davis either. 

Things have become even worse under new manager Julen Lopetegui, with Guedes being substituted half time against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.  Guedes was left out of the squad for the matchday squad against West Ham United.

Adnan Januzaj to join Valencia CF?

Valencia CF are negotiating the loan of Sevilla winger Adnan Januzaj. Adnan Januzaj joined Sevilla in 2022 as one of the many reinforcements that was supposed to create a new era of success at the club, but it's been nothing short of disaster. Now they are cleaning house and one of the targets is Adnan Januzaj who's barely featured at all since his arrival at Sevilla FC.

Adnan Januzaj had the most success at Real Sociedad where he featured over 130 times and managed to score 15 goals for them. He's also played 15 times for the Belgium representation and scored one goal for them! 

Gennaro Gattuso want the club to bring him another winger and even though central midfielder Nico was injured and will be out for 3 months, Gattuso still thinks the team lacks offensive options and wants another winger to join the team. 

Certainly not the most exciting option that has been rumored, he's also barely played in an official match since joining Sevilla and there are questions about his fitness and form. What do you think about Adnan Januzaj joining Valencia CF on loan?

Valencia CF after Facundo Pellestri

Valencia CF are going after Manchester United winger Facundo Pellestri. The offer is an initial loan deal for the rest of the season with an option to purchase the player at the end of the season. It's highly unlikely that Manchester United are going to agree with a buyout clause, though they might loan the player to Valencia CF in the hopes that he gets more play time. 

Facundo Pellestri joined Manchester United in 2020 from Uruguayan side Penarol, though was immediately loaned out Alaves for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Only recently did he make his competitive debut in their victory over Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup. 

The player is very talented and has huge potential for the future, no wonder why Manchester United got him, but he is still young and inexperienced and has ways to go before he reaches his potential. Valencia CF is after him because they can get him for free on a loan deal, while other options would cost money, something Valencia CF wants to avoid in the winter transfer market! 

RCD Espanyol to purchase Dimitri Foulquier

RCD Espanyol have offered Valencia CF 2 million euros for the purchase of Dimitri Foulquier, an offer Valencia CF deemed too low to accept, though they have shown willingness to listen for an improved offer. 

Dimitri Foulquier has not featured too much under Gennaro Gattuso and has been relegated as a backup to Thierry Correia, with Foulquier featuring 10 times, but mostly as a sub with only 289 minutes played so far in the season. 

Valencia CF isn't particularly interested in selling the player, certainly not for just 2 million euros when we lack cover the right back position and we have a mini-injury crisis with Nico and Samu both out of the squad for at least one month and longer, positions that Foulquier can cover as he can play central defense, right back, right winger and as a defensive midfielder. 

We'll have to wait and see if RCD Espanyol come back with an improved offer, 3 million euros seems to be the amount where Valencia CF might think about parting ways with Dimitry Foulquier. 

Liverpool and Chelsea FC going after Yunus Musah

The competition to acquire Yunus Musah is heating up with Liverpool FC the latest premier league club to show interest in the player. Jurgen Klopp is a fan of the player personally and is requiring Liverpool FC go after the player. 

That is not going be as easy for Liverpool FC as perhaps they would have hoped, as Chelsea FC have also shown interest in the player and are looking to add him to their squad. In fact, I wrote about this two weeks ago with Chelsea FC being one of the most serious contenders for the player, along with Fulham who were willing to offer up to 35 million euros to acquire the player. Valencia CF is demanding 40 million euros and with several premier league clubs vying for his signature there is no reason for Valencia CF to negotiate for the price. 

Whoever reaches that number is going to acquire the player, though if he is to be sold, it's unclear how Valencia CF is going to cover his absence, considering Nico got injured recently and will be out for at least 3 months and additionally Samu Castillejo also got injured during last match and will be out for at least a month. 

Yunus Musah has become more of a central midfielder, so we do sort of have cover for him, but he is very versatile and can cover multiple positions, which is part of his appeal, so it's going to be very hard to replace him, though maybe Valencia CF is waiting for exactly that to sell the player for 40 million euros and then purchase reinforcements! 

Either way there are several premier league clubs interested in the player with Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC being closely linked to the player, though as I reported previously, we might even see Fulham and other teams come in the spotlight. 

For 40 million euros I'd sell him, he is a solid player and has big potential, he's shown he can be very effective defensively, has a lot of speed as well, but for 40 million euros I think that is a fair price for him as of right now. There is no guarantee that he is going to become the next Silva or Aimar or Baraja for Valencia CF, so for 40 million euros I'd sell him. 

Valencia CF to sign Luis Gerardo Chávez

Luis Gerardo Chávez

Valencia CF are interested in Pachuca midfielder Luis Chavez as they look to cover for the injured Nico Gonzales who suffered a serious injury that is going to have him absent for at least 3 months. Valencia CF were looking to bring in another winger but are now turning their attention to a central type of midfielder in order to cover for Nico's absence. 

He joined CF Pachuca in 2019 from FC Tinuana for 1.2 million euros and has helped them win the league title in 2022. His current market value stands at 8 million euros.

Luis Chávez is 26 years old, plays as a defensive midfielder, stands at 1.78m height and has so far featured in 16 matches for CF Pachuca and has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist. 

With decent negotiations Valencia CF can sign the player for less than his market value, realistically 5 million euros should be enough to sign the player, since Luis has showed interest in continuing his career abroad and Europe is his preferred destination. Spain would be an excellent fit for him and Valencia CF a great club to continue his career at.

Bryan Gil on loan at Valencia CF again?

Valencia CF wants to bring Bryan Gil back again with a long-term loan deal spanning 18 months. The player favors a return to the Mestalla and is ready to take a pay cut in order to facilitate the move. Tottenham are not so willing though, as they want Bryan Gil as cover and are unwilling to release the player if they do not bring in someone else for his position. 

While the player has featured sparingly for Tottenham, he is still deemed as a bright future prospect and Tottenham are unsure if such a long-term loan deal would be beneficial for them! Either way Valencia CF is pushing hard for this deal to become a reality and are even willing to even pay Tottenham small amount of loan fee, something in the region of 2-3 million in order to expedite the transfer. 

Valencia CF also wants a purchase option at the end of the loan deal for 25 million euros, so they can possibly buy the player if things go smoothly, and he becomes an integral part of the team. 

Isco to return to Valencia CF?

Isco was an up-and-coming Valencia CF player who impressed for Valencia's B team, amazed with his trickery the few times he featured for Valencia's main team as well, but instead of securing his stay at Valencia CF Valencia's management did not secure his long term stay at the club, and he got snatched by Real Madrid. 

He spent most of his career at Real Madrid, often playing second fiddle to the other midfielders and only occasionally getting the chance to play. Either way he persisted at Real Madrid and spent 9 years there before moving on and joining Sevilla FC in the summer of 2022. His time at Sevilla has not been fruitful as the player lost favor with the coach and after only 5 months his story at Sevilla ended. Both parties agreed to terminate the contract and Isco became a free agent. 

His agent has been offering the player's services to various clubs, with some clubs in Italy showing the biggest interest, but he's indirectly asking about Valencia's interest in possibly bringing Isco to its ranks once again.

Gennaro Gattuso has been clear that he wants a new winger and one more defensive player, but Isco can change his priorities. The biggest issue would be the player's salary as the player is looking for a 1.6 to 1.8 million annual salary, something Valencia CF might be unwilling to pay considering most of our newer players earn around the 1.2 to 1.4 million mark and Valencia CF pretty much got rid of almost all of the high earners with only Jose Luis Gaya remaining one of the few players that earns more than 4 million per year. 

Isco is 30 years of age, so not the young promising star he once was, but he's gained a lot of experience and considering he is free, with a salary that is not that high, this could be a decent transfer for Valencia CF. 

Nahitan Nández on Valencia CF wish list

Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nández is on Valencia CF new year's wish list. According to reports from Italy Valencia CF has inquired Cagliari about securing the services of Nahitan Nández. He is valued at about 5 million euros, though Valencia CF could offer them a player exchange type of deal with Diakhaby moving to Cagliari and Nahitan Nández to Valencia CF. 

Diakhaby has been offered a new deal with Valencia CF, but he has yet to sign it and Valencia CF will be looking to sell him off this transfer window, rather than losing him in the summer for free. Both players market value is around the 5-6 million euro mark and this is going to be a one for one deal with no other options added.

Gennaro Gattuso is said to be a big fan of Nahitan Nández and would love to bring the player to Valencia CF.

Fulham, Chealsea interested in Yunus Musah

Yunus Musah has had his fortunes turned around under Gennaro Gattuso as he's been entrusted by the coach on many occasions this season and has solidified himself as a first team player. He's also been one of the breakout players of the world cup and has impressed people with his speed, passing and eagerness to play.

His market value has risen accordingly at currently stands at around 25 to 30 million euros, which is only likely to grow through the rest of the season. Valencia CF has already put a price on him, but its reasonably above market value as to save face when they do sell him. Right now, Valencia CF is demanding 40 million euros for Yunus Musah and won't be listening to offers lower than that!

There are several English clubs already interested in Yunus Muash, one of the clubs that has shown the most interest in Fulham and they are willing to possibly shell out 35 million euros for the player or maybe sweeten the deal with money plus player if Valencia CF doesn't budge from their 40 million euros demand.

Valencia CF has no reason to lower the asking price though as Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton are all interested about the player and are inquiring about a possible purchase. There is big interest for the player right now and this means that Valencia CF are going to sell him by the summer, if not even sooner. 

Valencia CF sets its attention to Mickael Malsa

Valencia CF is looking at yet another option for midfield and this time its UD Levante's Mickael Malsa who plays as a defensive midfielder. Valencia CF wants to buy Mickael Malsa, though it first wants a loan deal for 6 months with a purchase clause at the end of the loan deal for 5 million euros. The club is in a weak financial situation so a purchase now is outside of possibility, but they could purchase the player in the summer from next years transfer money. 

As you know VCF has been linked with tons of names, but between Jose Bordalas rejecting some of the players and the financial burden in order to get some of the others the club has settle on Mickael Malsa who Jose Bordalas values the most and is the profile that he seeks, unlike some of the other names who are way more attack oriented. The club would also go for a purchase option for the player and at 5 million it is something the club can afford to spend in the summer. 

Diego Costa to join Valencia CF?

Diego Costa to join Valencia CF if Maxi Gomez is sold in the next 48 hours. Valencia's Maxi Gomez has been placed on the transfer market since the start of the transfer market, as Jose Bordalas has lost trust in the forward and with the player having one of the highest salaries in the club he is on the exit door. So far there has been no formal offers for the player, though several clubs have inquired about him.

Valencia CF have identified a replacement for Maxi Gomez in the event that he is sold and that replacement is non other than Diego Costa. Another interested club for the striker is Salernitana from Italy, though the player would prefer to join Valencia CF as Salernitana are battling relegation in Serie A.

Diego Costa is currently without a club so he is going to come for free, and of course he would earn a much smaller salary compared to Maxi Gomez.

Deportivo Alaves is Manu Vallejo's destination

Manu Vallejo has chosen Deportivo Alaves as his next club and all is left now is for both clubs to agree on a transfer. I've learned that Alaves has no transfer money so they are trying to get the player on a loan deal with Valencia CF pushing to sell the player as they do not count on the player in the future and as such they are trying to push for an obligatory purchase option at the end of the loan. Chances are it is going to be a low sum, something along the lines of 1.5 million euros with Valencia CF reserving some percentage of the players rights.