Valencia eyeing St. Juste as defensive solution amid injury crisis
Los Che exploring move for out-of-favour Sporting CP defender Jeremiah St. Juste, who hasn't played a minute this season after failed summer transfer to Osasuna.
Valencia CF are making moves to strengthen their defensive options with Dutch centre-back Jeremiah St. Juste emerging as a potential January target, with the 29-year-old currently frozen out at Sporting CP.
Defensive Crisis at Mestalla
Corberán’s squad is facing some serious defensive headaches right now:
- Diakhaby’s injury has left a gaping hole in central defence
- Thierry’s absence at right-back could extend beyond six weeks
- The club is desperate for versatile defensive reinforcements
St. Juste, standing at 1.86m tall, offers that versatility. The right-footed defender is known particularly for his pace, allowing him to operate both as a centre-back and right-back when needed - exactly the type of two-for-one deal Valencia are after in their current predicament.
The Portuguese Exile
Here’s where it gets interesting. The Dutchman hasn’t played a single minute for Sporting this season after a proper dog’s dinner of a summer transfer saga:
- Travelled to Pamplona to complete a move to Osasuna
- Deal collapsed due to tax complications between Portugal and Spain
- Nearly joined Union Berlin but that move also fell through
- Subsequently banished to Sporting’s B team
In his own social media explanation from September, St. Juste revealed he had “packed his bags” for Germany before the deal collapsed when Sporting needed to sell another player first.
Potential Red Flags
While the defender’s availability is tempting, Valencia brass have two major concerns:
- His complete lack of competitive football this season raises fitness questions
- An extensive injury history is giving the club the willies - he missed 20 matches last season, 14 the year before, and a whopping 29 in the 2022-23 campaign
Celta Vigo are also reportedly interested in the defender, who becomes a free agent this summer when his Sporting contract expires.
For Valencia, it’s a classic January transfer gamble - a potentially quality player with significant question marks. But with their current defensive emergency, they might just decide it’s worth a punt.