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 remain alive. Only a few details are left for Fausto Vera, but for the rest, things are still far off.

River has been active in the transfer market ever since they were eliminated from the Torneo Clausura. However, with just four days to go before preseason starts, there are still no confirmed signings and several names have already been crossed off the list. Below, we detail which negotiations are still open and what the chances are that the squad will resume training on Saturday the 20th with a new face.

For now, when Marcelo Gallardo stands in front of the squad at River Camp to kick off a new year of work, he will be greeted by all familiar faces, although without some of the club legends who have already left. Enzo Pérez, Nacho Fernández, Pity Martínez, Milton Casco, and Miguel Ángel Borja (whose name is being linked to Boca) will not be there, but for now, there will also be no one to replace them.

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

In that regard, the only negotiation that seems on track and just a few details away from confirmation is that of Fausto Vera. Sidelined at Atlético Mineiro under Jorge Sampaoli and a long-time target of the Muñeco, the 25-year-old central midfielder is close to becoming River's first signing. If all goes as expected, he could even join in the first days of 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 underway for at least four more players: Gianluca Prestianni, Mateo Allende, Julio Soler, and Santiago Ascacíbar. Even in 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 sash, but they have already rejected the first loan offer. A representative from the Núñez club will travel to Portugal in the coming hours to try to unlock 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 applies to Allende. After excelling and being the star at Inter Miami alongside Lionel Messi, the former Godoy Cruz player must return to Celta, the club that owns his rights. River has already made initial contacts to try to secure a loan for the 26-year-old forward, but the Vigo club intends to sell the player outright. The first offer is already on the table; much will depend on whether other interested parties appear in Europe.

Along the same lines, Bournemouth has not closed the door on River for Soler. While the English side seeks to improve the terms of the loan and the purchase option, they have already received inquiries from Ajax, Werder Bremen, and Udinese, among other clubs. If any of these accelerate their interest, the Núñez club will have no way to compete.

Finally, there is the Ascacíbar option. The optimism of the early days following a meeting with his agent at the Monumental has gradually faded and several days have passed without any news. From the start, Estudiantes has been somewhat reluctant to sell him to a rival in Argentine football, although River's management is even willing to change its negotiation approach and try to buy a share of his rights.

The player himself cast some doubt on his future after Pincha's triumph in the Torneo Clausura. “I'm still here, I have one more final left and then I'll think about the future. My focus is here until the end of the year, then I'll make an assessment”, said the captain.

The truth is that the title and qualification for the Copa Libertadores has complicated things for River. With Estudiantes back in the top continental competition (while River plays in the Copa Sudamericana), they will try to hold on to one of their key players. At 28, the Russian is vital to (for now) Eduardo Domínguez's team, and it won't be easy for him to switch sides within Argentina.

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