Almería bolster attack with De la Fuente loan swoop from Leganés
The Andalusian promotion chasers have secured Miguel De la Fuente on loan with a non-obligatory purchase option as they look to strengthen their striking options.
Almería have moved swiftly and quietly to secure their third January signing, bringing in striker Miguel De la Fuente on loan from struggling Leganés until the end of the season.
Under-the-radar deal
While Almería’s pursuit of Jon Morcillo and Jorge Pulido generated plenty of chatter in the Spanish football bubble, this transfer came right out of the blue. The Andalusian club announced the deal earlier today, with the loan including a non-obligatory purchase option according to MARCA’s reporting.
The 25-year-old Valladolid-born forward will waste no time integrating with his new teammates, as he’s expected to join training this Thursday and could potentially feature in Saturday’s home clash against Deportivo.
Promotion firepower needed
Almería’s promotion push has been crying out for additional attacking options beyond Thalys and Soko. The club’s brass have been on the hunt for a striker who can:
- Provide immediate impact rather than development potential
- Bring some much-needed experience to the forward line
- Contribute goals in their quest for promotion back to La Liga
De la Fuente arrives having struggled for playing time at Leganés this season, with the Madrid-based side battling to pull away from the relegation spots in Spain’s second tier. The striker’s goal return has been modest at best - just two goals for the ‘Cucumber Growers’ this campaign.
Rubi’s attacking puzzle
The addition gives manager Rubi a proper third striking option as Almería look to secure their return to the top flight. The big question now is whether De la Fuente can rediscover his scoring touch and provide the goals that could make all the difference in the promotion race.
For a team with serious ambitions of returning to La Liga at the first time of asking, this quiet bit of business could turn out to be a right Bobby Dazzler if the new man starts finding the onion bag regularly.