Echeverri on the brink: City wonderkid set for Girona rescue mission
Argentine talent Claudio Echeverri arrives in Catalonia as Girona prepare January moves to salvage their season, with Ter Stegen also on their ambitious radar.
Struggling Girona set for January overhaul with Man City’s Argentine gem ready to inject creativity into their faltering attack.
Echeverri to the rescue
Claudio Echeverri has already touched down in Catalonia, just waiting for the paperwork to be sorted between Manchester City and Girona to make his loan move official. The highly-rated Argentine youngster, considered one of his country’s brightest prospects, is being drafted in to help revitalize Girona’s sputtering attack that’s managed just 15 goals in 17 league matches.
The 19-year-old playmaker will offer Míchel fresh options in attacking midfield or on the wings. After a frustrating spell at Bayer Leverkusen during the first half of the season – where he made just 11 appearances totaling 271 minutes across all competitions – Echeverri’s now being redirected within the City Football Group to help save Girona from relegation. Bit of a comedown for a club that was mixing it with the big boys in the Champions League not long ago!
Squad reshuffle on the cards
Echeverri’s arrival means one of Girona’s non-EU players must make way, with the club now listening to offers for both Solís and Asprilla (Brazilian defender Vitor Reis is apparently untouchable). Meanwhile, goalkeeper Livakovic has already stopped training with the club and looks certain to depart.
Girona’s poor results have forced their hand in the winter market, with the club acknowledging that their summer business left them short in multiple positions. The Catalan outfit are now scrambling to strengthen their squad to avoid a disastrous relegation season.
Ambitious goalkeeper hunt
In what would be an absolute blinder of a signing, Girona are reportedly making a serious play for Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen. The German international would be a massive upgrade between the sticks, with his exceptional footwork perfectly suiting Míchel’s playing style.
However, competition for Ter Stegen’s signature is heating up, with clubs from around the globe expressing interest in recent days. Convincing the German to join will be a proper challenge, but landing a keeper of his caliber would represent a giant leap forward for Girona’s survival hopes.