Valencia already focuses its limited resources when going to the market in the position of the midfielder. It is the priority and what Anil Murthy and Miguel Ángel Corona are focused on. Other positions in which to strengthen, such as the center of the rear, are left in neutral. Valencia only has the approval of Peter Lim to invest in signings the proportional part of the staff cost that was freed with the departure of Kondogbia and the club focuses on the demarcation that was left the most orphaned in the summer market with Dani's marches Parejo, Francis Coquelin and the aforementioned Kondogbia. In this way, the club no longer speaks of reinforcements in the plural but in the singular and with nuances.
There Valencia works under the premise of reinforcing the center of the field with a guaranteed player and raise the competitive level of the workforce. It is not about filling the locker room, which in the philosophy of Meriton Holdings is seen as taking opportunities away from young people without implying a notable bonus in the performance of the group. But that ideal of reinforcement collides with the economic reality of the club, with the directives of the property (Lim only authorizes transfers) and the situation of the January market.
An example is Harry winks, a footballer who meets the premise of an improvement in level, with him there have been negotiations open for weeks as AS revealed, but for which today it is difficult to reach an agreement with Tottenham, which asks for an economic amount for his This assignment, together with its file, means that the operation from Valencia is not considered viable (without being 100% ruled out). But Valencia continues to work on other proper names that the technical secretariat has on its radar since leaving Kondogbia.
As of January 12, with Valencia flirting with the relegation zone, no reinforcement has yet arrived through Paterna. The intention of the club, as Anil Murthy told Javi Gracia, is to provide the Navarrese coach with better resources than he has. But the delicate sports situation, somewhat relieved after the triumph in Valladolid, although far from resolved, does not alter the philosophy of quarry and the premise is that a “stopper” will only be put on Racic, Esquerdo or Koba if the signing brings “a plus” to the group.
Valencia, on the other hand, in its intention to sign a pivot that increases the level, open the door to pay for an assignment, although this would only occur if it is within the margin left by Kondogbia (a situation that does not occur in the case of English, whose salary already consumes that margin) or, if necessary, there is a new exit in this winter market, something that Javi Gracia does not want. But the club is open to listening to the interest that third parties are showing by players such as Nephew, an appetizing striker in clubs like Cádiz (Álvaro Cervera recognized him in Ser Deportivos Valencia), or if offers will arrive for Mangala.