Gallardo’s River keep quiet while chasing a centre-back and wide forward | OneFootball

River are winding down pre-season in Punta del Este before Saturday’s friendly with Peñarol, while continuing a low-profile push to add a centre-back and a wide forward. According to SuperDepor.com, the club want to conduct business quietly after recent noise.

Within the past 48 hours an approach for Gianluca Prestianni was rebuffed, Benfica refused to sell despite interest in buying half of his rights for five million dollars. After collapsed moves for Maher Carrizo and Santiago Andino, and complications over Romaña, Marcelo Gallardo and Stefano Di Carlo have kept working discreetly.

The window closes on 20 January, though clubs that sell players abroad will have extra time. River believe they could use that allowance with the exit of Paulo Díaz, who is going to be sold, which would extend their timeframe beyond the AFA deadline.

Club sources say talks and searches are ongoing, kept under tight wraps after earlier attempts. Although River dismiss the link, Sebastián Villa continues to be mentioned, he has said he would like to join Juanfer, and his club have reduced the asking price.

On departures, the exit of Bautista Dadín has been confirmed. Having stepped up to the first team then returned to the reserves, he will join Independiente Rivadavia on loan with no purchase option, to play the Libertadores. Another youngster who could leave is centre-back Ulises Gímenez, who trained with the seniors before resuming pre-season under Marcelo Escudero.

Source: SuperDepor.com