One by one: How River’s talks for new signings are progressing | OneFootball

The Millionaire has not yet managed to finalize the signing of any player, but negotiations for several new faces are still ongoing. For Fausto Vera, only details remain, but for the rest, it is still far off.

River has been active in the transfer market since the moment they were eliminated from the Torneo Clausura. However, just four days before the preseason starts, no reinforcements have been confirmed and several names have already been crossed off. Below are the ongoing negotiations and the chances of the team resuming work on Saturday the 20th with a new face.

For now, when Marcelo Gallardo stands in front of the team at the River Camp to kick off a new year of work, he will see all familiar faces, although without some of the historic players who have already left the club. Enzo Pérez, Nacho Fernández, Pity Martínez, Milton Casco, and Miguel Ángel Borja (his name is being mentioned at Boca) will not be there, but for now, there will be no replacements either.

This year, the new management led by Stefano di Carlo changed the strategy for acquiring players. The intention is to secure loans with an option or obligation to buy to avoid large expenditures on players who end up not adapting to the club. Additionally, it postpones the eventual payment for the transfer for at least another year.

In this regard, the only negotiation that seems on track and just details away from confirmation is that of Fausto Vera. Overlooked at Atlético Mineiro under Jorge Sampaoli and a long-time desire of the Muñeco, the 25-year-old central midfielder is close to becoming River's first reinforcement. If everything goes as expected, he could even join in the first days of the preseason. It would be a one-year loan with a purchase option of around five million dollars.

All other negotiations are several steps behind Vera's. Currently, there are formal talks initiated for at least four more players: Gianluca Prestianni, Mateo Allende, Julio Soler, and Santiago Ascacíbar. Despite different contexts, the common factor facing the Millionaire is that none of the clubs owning their rights prioritize selling their players to River.

Benfica, for example, does not rule out the former Vélez player returning to Argentina to wear the band, but they have already rejected the first loan offer. A club emissary from Núñez will travel to Portugal in the coming hours to try to resolve the situation, with the player's own approval, but in the meantime, the Eagles are looking for a European alternative for the 19-year-old.

A similar situation is that of Allende. After excelling and being the star at Inter Miami alongside Lionel Messi, the former Godoy Cruz must return to Celta, the club that owns his rights. River has already made initial contacts to attempt a loan for the 26-year-old forward, but the Vigo club intends to sell the card. The first offer is already on the table, and it will largely depend on whether other interested parties appear in the Old Continent.

Similarly, Bournemouth has not closed the door on the Millionaire for Soler. While the English team seeks to improve the loan conditions and the purchase option, they have already received inquiries from Ajax, Werder Bremen, and Udinese, among other clubs. If any of these accelerate, the club from Núñez will have no way to compete.

Finally, there is the option of Ascacíbar. The initial optimism after a meeting with his representative at the Monumental has gradually faded, and several days have passed without news. From the beginning, Estudiantes has been somewhat reluctant to sell him to an Argentine football rival, although the Millionaire's management is even willing to change their negotiation methodology and try to buy a part of his rights.

The player himself cast some doubts about his future after Pincha's victory in the Torneo Clausura. “I'm still here, I have one more final, and then I'll think about the future. My mind is here until the year ends, then I'll make an evaluation,” said the captain.

The truth is that the title and qualification for the Copa Libertadores complicated the scenario for River. With Estudiantes once again in the top continental event (while the Millionaire plays in the Copa Sudamericana), they will try to retain one of their key players. At 28, the Russian is vital to the team of (for now) Eduardo Domínguez, and it will not be easy for him to switch sides in Argentina.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.