Corberán targets leadership with centre-back and holding midfielder for Valencia | OneFootball

Carlos Corberán is targeting at least two additions, a centre-back and a holding midfielder, to strengthen Valencia's spine.

According to AS, his staff want Ron Gourlay to accelerate talks in the next 48 hours, with a clear brief for players with authority. Those recruits are envisaged to sit alongside Umar Sadiq in the second half of the season.

Plans shifted once the window opened mid-season, particularly at centre-back. Injuries to Mouctar Diakhaby then Thierry Rendall redirected focus to the right, shelving an initial move for a left-footed centre-back. The push for Dutch defender De Haas was halted, though he is out of contract with Famelicao in June.

Gourlay missed the Copa visit to El Plantío on Thursday but attended Sunday in Getafe. He used the return journey to brief Corberán on multiple active negotiations in both roles, all within similar sporting, physical and financial parameters. The hope is to conclude deals before facing Espanyol.

A centre-back and a holding midfielder would occupy Valencia's two vacant registration slots, one unused since the start and another created by Diakhaby's long-term injury. Part or all of nearly two million permitted by LaLiga's Fair Play relief for that injury can be assigned to one reinforcement only, with 40 percent of his salary eligible.

Once those two priorities are addressed, as Corberán has stressed privately and hinted publicly, Valencia will monitor the final week of the window. Outgoings would be required first to open space and lighten the wage bill. That phase follows the second arrival after Sadiq, namely the centre-back and the holding midfielder.

Source: AS