Valencia use January to rebuild spine with Sadiq, Unai Núñez and Guido Rodríguez | OneFootball

Valencia moved in January to rebuild their spine after flirting with the drop through the first half of the season, adding Umar Sadiq, Unai Núñez and Guido Rodríguez to fix summer shortcomings. Sadiq has a contract to 2028, yet the trio address immediate needs shaped by head coach Carlos Corberán.

In October Ron Gourlay said there would be signings in every window until the Nou Mestalla opens in 2027/28. In November he reshaped recruitment with Lisandro Isei after Miguel Ángel Corona and Carmelo del Pozo departed, according to Superdeporte. Winter urgency has trumped longer-term planning.

Up front, Valencia finally secured the powerful number nine profile to stretch defences and counter. Talks with Real Sociedad for the Nigerian ran to deadline day in August, but only now has around five million euros been committed. Lucas Beltrán instead arrived on loan, industrious and linking play, with one league goal at the Metropolitano against Atlético de Madrid.

At the back, a left-footed centre-back remains unresolved, complicated by Famalicao’s stance on Justin de Haas, and cover for Cristhian Mosquera never arrived. Mouctar Diakhaby then suffered a hamstring tear, had surgery and is out until next season. The need led to a loan for Unai Núñez, who brings La Liga experience and versatility for a back three, on the left or even at full-back within Peter Lim’s tight finances.

In midfield, former Betis player Guido Rodríguez is expected to balance a unit where Pepelu has been the lone pivot after Baptiste Santamaría struggled to adapt. Santamaría could leave before 2 February, though he prefers a summer exit. With the World Cup and Argentina in mind, Rodríguez is tipped to mirror Enzo Barrenechea’s strong spring, and the former Aston Villa player was bought by Benfica after his Valencia loan ended.

Overall, January has served as a corrective to July and August planning, with structural tweaks aimed at stabilising the team for a demanding run-in.

Source: Superdeporte