Meunier U-turn leaves Valencia short at right-back as Corberán’s plans stall | OneFootball

Thomas Meunier’s late change of heart has wrong-footed Valencia, leaving Carlos Corberán short at right-back and delaying wider squad plans. The Belgian had been the manager’s priority target.

According to AS, Ron Gourlay told Corberán that Meunier had accepted, yet a week after he reversed course to join Sunderland, Valencia still have no defined alternative for the role.

The market’s free options carry doubts for the coaching staff, and there is limited budget for fees. With that position the urgent need, moves in other areas have been paused.

Dimitri Foulquier is not expected to receive medical clearance until late September at best, and Rubo Iranzo is the only available right-back.

Valencia placed great faith in Meunier’s commitment despite his World Cup exposure and a proposal of a one-year deal with a second season tied to demanding performance criteria from Gourlay and Lisandro Isei. The verbal agreement went unsigned for nearly two weeks, and Sunderland stepped in with a guaranteed second year and European competition.

Had it been completed, the move would have been financially favourable for Valencia, with the 34-year-old agreeing to a little over one million euros for year one and an optional second. Gourlay and Isei are now assessing free agents or loans, which usually take time, or purchase models such as long contracts to amortise a fee or buying only a percentage.

Source: AS