Santos plan player sales in next window to bolster squad and balance the books | OneFootball

Santos plan to sell players in the next transfer window to balance the books and add reinforcements for the rest of the season.

According to Globo.com, the club has followed a similar strategy in the last two windows, moving on Luca Meirelles and Souza. It is targeting fees in line with those deals.

Luca Meirelles joined Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine for €12 million, about R$ 70.7 million. Souza was sold to Tottenham of England for €15 million, about R$ 88.3 million.

After selling Luca Meirelles last year, Santos signed centre-backs Alexis Duarte and Adonis Frías, midfielder Victor Hugo, and forwards Lautaro Díaz and Billal Brahimi.

Proceeds from Souza’s transfer were directed to day-to-day obligations, including wages and image rights, with a portion used to settle a debt to Arouca for defender João Basso.

The €2.56 million liability led to a Fifa transfer ban, and the club had to clear it before registering midfielder Christian Oliva.

In the first half of this year, Santos faced difficulties covering the wage bill, delaying the payment of salaries and image rights.

Source: Globo.com