Sanse refreshed, strong core intact as Real Sociedad B chase repeat survival | OneFootball

Sanse delivered an outstanding season, the second-best by a reserve in Segunda over the past 12 years, clinching safety with room to spare. With a largely Gipuzkoan side, they finished above Valladolid, Cádiz and Zaragoza and won 0-3 at Riazor against promoted Deportivo.

Now comes the hardest part, sustaining it for a second year. According to Diario Vasco, no reserve has managed back-to-back survivals since 2015, when Barcelona B went down after five seasons.

Jon Ansotegi and Imanol Agirretxe keep a solid core, but key pieces move on. Dadie leaves, while Balda and Mikel Rodríguez, both 24, step up for first-team assessments, with Balda out for pre-season after spleen surgery and Rodríguez set to be fit.

Job Ochieng, no longer under-23, cannot feature for the first team in domestic competitions. After nine goals and two assists, he will join pre-season under Matarazzo before a decision is taken, and his Sanse stint appears over.

Luken Beitia will work under the head coach, his role hinging on centre-back plans after Aritz and Caleta-Car departed, with Zubeldia and Jon Martín staying and Pacheco unresolved.

The club will trigger Kazunari Kita’s 1.5 million buy clause, then weigh a loan or another year in the B. With Iker Calderón and Iker Ropero also in the frame, not all three will stay unless Ropero shifts to full-back, where Unax Agote has renewed.

Gorka Carrera’s 15 goals put him in line for a loan to a leading Segunda side or even Primera. Aitor Fraga anchors the goalkeeping group, ineligible for Liga or Copa but eligible for Europe if registered, with Theo Folgado or Lander Olasagasti to support.

Wingers Lander Astiazaran, Dani Díaz and Álex Marchal remain, and Ghanaian Andrews Adjabeng steps up as the first from the Africa Talent partnership to reach this level. Up front are Arkaitz Mariezkurrena and Ekain Orobengoa, with Javi Soroeta signed and Sydney Osazuwa’s return from AZ Alkmaar uncertain.

There are 27 candidates overall and sporting lead Erik Bretos prefers minimal recruitment unless a clear opportunity emerges, as with last year’s successful addition of Kita.

Source: Diario Vasco