AMUNT VALENCIA! – Things look good for Los Che

By Connor Andrews
Updated: 5 January, 2012

As the January transfer window opens in Spain, third-placed Valencia finally look like they will be able to strengthen their squad without having to sell prized assets first.

With the news that building work has resumed on the Nou Mestalla, the financial burden has been dramatically eased with some reports suggesting the club’s debt figure has been more than halved.

And to make sure they don’t have to sell first, deals for two of their best players, Ever Banega and Jordi Alba are also being worked on.

Banega, whose current five and a half year contract runs out next summer, has on occasions been involved in controversy and after burning bridges with some sections of support when he was spotted in a Real Madrid shirt over the summer, he has put in a huge deal of hard work to once again become one of the clubs most prized assets, recently making an emphatic return from a medium term injury.

Valencianista Jordi Alba has improved game by game since swapping places with Jeremy Mathieu and moving to fullback, but with the lack of quality left backs in world football there will no doubt be interest from some top clubs, Barcelona and Manchester United have been linked most recently and it’s likely more will become interested as Alba continues to cement his place in Spain’s backline.

Two deals Valencia look to have tied up are those for Ajax’s Gregory van der Wiel and Deportivo’s Andres Guardado. Both moves will probably become certainties over the January window but the players will not join until the summer.

Van der Wiel could be the answer to Valencia’s long term right back problems, with Bruno and Miguel both ageing, and the latter consistently breaking rules, the Holland international looks to be the solution, added to that quotes from the player and his agent suggest a deal is all but done, for a fee of around 10 million euros.

Mexican Andres Guardado has verbally agreed a deal to join Los Che and return to La Liga in the summer, the winger has a fantastic record of assists and goals in the Primera and Segunda. He will no doubt be a huge addition to Valencia’s squad adding depth and quality to the wings following Juan Mata’s departure.

The team are attempting to strengthen over the current window and are believed to be trying to negotiate a deal for Sporting Gijons Alberto Botia, which is complicated by Barcelona’s buy back option on the player.

A move for AZ Alkmaar’s Rasmus Elm has been mooted in the press but due to the fact attacking midfield is not a priority for the team and Elm has been linked to many European clubs, the media speculation stinks of agent talk.

In terms of departures, one of the aforementioned right backs, Bruno (31) and Miguel (32) are likely to leave in the near future if an offer comes in, due to age and the impending van der Wiel signing, the remaining fullback (most likely Miguel) will remain until the summer to compete for their place with Antonio Barragan until the Dutchman arrives.

Due to Valencia being unable to guarantee trophies, out of favour players tend to become discontent, Ricardo Costa, the main example is looking for a move away, and due to his age club officials will entertain offers if the price is right, Unai Emery has stressed the importance of having four center backs in his squad and if a deal for Botia is completed this window or the next, both his and Angel Dealbert’s places in the squad will be tangible.

Another aging player in the squad, Aritz Aduriz has been subject to interest from other La Liga clubs, and much like his team mates, if and when a replacement is found this window or next, he will be allowed to move.

In order to aid Valencia’s progress to the next step in their impending revolution the older players of less quality will have to make way, but until the season ends they won’t leave without an established replacement ready to help the club retain their top four status and challenge for the remaining cup competitions.

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