Villarreal’s winter window: exits, returns and decisions before February | OneFootball

Villarreal front-loaded their investment last summer, reinjecting 100 million euros from sales to build depth, but early cup exits and a Champions League run that ended after matchday eight have forced a mid-season trim.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Adri Altimira departed on a free to Deportivo and Manor Solomon returned to Fiorentina on loan from Tottenham before the window officially opened, having been peripheral under Marcelino García Toral.

From February, Marcelino is set to have a full squad bar Logan Costa, whose comeback remains months away. Morocco’s Ilias Akhomach and Senegal’s Pape Gueye are Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finalists. LaLiga EA Sports is the only competition left, with 18 rounds remaining, including a catch-up at Levante in the Ciutat de València on 11 next month, and Willy Kambwala is only weeks away. Without further moves or injuries, he would work with 24 players, excluding Thiago Fernández.

Among potential outgoings now, third-choice goalkeeper Diego Conde, contracted to 2029, has suitors but prefers to stay. Akhomach has been linked with a move due to limited minutes, though a January exit is not currently envisaged.

Thiago Fernández is a long-term bet to 2031 after 13 months without playing, between a serious knee injury and his spell out of favour at Vélez Sarsfield. The plan is a loan with a penalty clause to ensure minimum minutes, hence no LaLiga registration yet. If no agreement is found, he could finish the season with the B team in Primera Federación.

At left-back, Sergi Cardona has a contract with a 15 million euros clause, Alfonso Pedraza’s deal ends on 30 June, and Carlos Romero’s release is 45 million. The club hope two remain next season, market permitting. In Italy it is taken for granted that Pedraza will join Lazio, yet Villarreal have not given up on him, and they do not rule out Romero becoming a major summer sale if his clause is triggered.

Also expiring on 30 June are Dani Parejo and Thomas Partey. Parejo’s prominence has dipped, though his influence endures. Partey has not met expectations and faces a November trial on sexual assault charges, which reduces the chances of an extension.

Elsewhere, Villarreal must resolve Álex Forés’s next step as he leaves Oviedo with Leganés interested, and Ramon Terrats’s situation at Espanyol. They are also monitoring former prospects Karl Etta Eyong at Levante and Haissem Hassan at Oviedo.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo