Sellés Needs Transfer Window Miracle to Save Zaragoza's Skin
Real Zaragoza showing signs of life under Rubén Sellés, but January reinforcements are essential if they're to escape Segunda División relegation zone.
Real Zaragoza may have shown signs of life since Rubén Sellés took the reins, but Saturday’s result confirmed what many feared - the gaffer needs serious backing in January to pull off a great escape.
January shopping list
The winter transfer window opens on January 2nd, and sporting director Txema Indias can’t afford to dawdle. Zaragoza have been screaming out for reinforcements for months, and unlike last summer’s deadline day scramble, they need quality through the door sharpish.
Sellés has worked wonders with what he’s got - instilling an identity, competitive spirit, and clear philosophy. But let’s not Adam and Eve it - the squad needs major surgery to avoid the drop, with at least four signings required:
- A centre-back with different attributes to Insua, Radovanovic and Tachi
- A striker with actual goal threat (imagine that!)
- A new wide player
- A technically gifted central midfielder
Clearing the deadwood
Before new faces arrive, there’s plenty of players heading for the exit door. Summer departures that never materialized - Kosa and Bakis - are likely on their way out, while big-wage disappointments Paul Akouokou and Samed Bazdar could follow them.
Dani Gómez, clearly not in Sellés’ plans, might be another casualty, with injured Paulino and barely-used Pau Sans potentially joining the exodus. The goal? Create space for genuine difference-makers who can slot straight into the starting XI.
Race against time
The Aragonese outfit remains rooted to the bottom of Segunda División, and while Sellés has breathed new life into proceedings, the second half of the season needs to be near-perfect to avoid disaster.
The manager’s done his bit by giving Zaragoza a fighting chance. Now the club hierarchy needs to step up and deliver the tools for survival. Otherwise, one of Spanish football’s historic institutions could be writing another dark chapter in its storied history.