Vinicius Lira blow leaves Santos leaning on in-house fix amid market limits | OneFootball

The ACL injury to Vinicius Lira has forced Santos to rethink their squad plan, and they are expected to prioritise an internal solution.

According to Globo.com, the window runs until 27 March and only permits signings of players who featured in the state championships. After a quick market scan, the club believes progressing on a deal that satisfies the staff within the current budget will be difficult.

As a result, stop-gaps at left-back are being studied at least until the mid-year window. Santos have already added six players this season, Gabriel Barbosa, Gabriel Menino, Lucas Veríssimo, Moisés, Rony and Oliva.

On the left side, the club sold then-starter Souza to Tottenham for R$ 94 million, keeping just over R$ 80 million. The plan had been to nurture Lira with Escobar as back-up.

With the 18-year-old sidelined and a tight market, Escobar, the Argentine, is expected to start, with scope for improvisation. In the derby against Corinthians, Vojvoda used three centre-backs with Rony and Barreal as wing-backs.

Barreal, who operated on the left on Sunday, is among the options being worked on. For a more defensive balance, left-footed centre-back Luan Peres is under short-term consideration.

Academy full-back Rafael Gonzaga is also available to the first-team staff.

The first audition for the role comes on Wednesday at 21:30, Brasília time, when Santos host Internacional at Vila Belmiro in the seventh round of the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Source: Globo.com