Levante's contract conundrum: Key goalscorers Pablo Martínez and Dela heading for the exit door
Two of Levante's match-winners against Elche are out of contract in just 154 days, presenting Luis Castro with a significant headache amid the club's financial troubles.
Despite finally bagging their first home league win of the season, Levante face losing two of their most influential players for absolutely nada this summer.
Contract rebels
Pablo Martínez and Dela, both instrumental in Friday’s crucial victory at the Ciutat de València, are currently set to leave on free transfers with their contracts expiring on June 30th - just 154 days away.
Both lads proved their worth against Elche, with:
- Pablo netting the equaliser to make it 1-1
- Dela powering home a header to put Levante 2-1 up
These weren’t just any goals - they were proper game-changers that secured three vital points for Luis Castro’s side.
Castro’s cornerstones
The Portuguese gaffer clearly rates the pair, making them fixtures in his starting XI. Their experience and composure on the ball has been invaluable, and their goalscoring contributions against Elche only underline their importance to the team.
While Dela does have a potential one-year extension clause that would trigger automatically if he meets certain appearance-based targets, Pablo’s situation appears more straightforward - he’s heading for the exit unless something changes sharpish.
Financial fog
Levante’s ongoing financial difficulties have put major question marks over their recruitment strategy. The club’s brass seem reluctant to make any concrete decisions until they know whether they’ll maintain their top-flight status next season.
This hesitation creates a right old dog’s dinner - the longer these players remain unsigned, the more attractive they become to rival clubs looking for a bargain. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
More contract concerns
It’s not just Martínez and Dela who are in the last chance saloon contract-wise. Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who arrived as an emergency signing in the January transfer window, is also set to become a free agent this summer.
Perhaps less concerning is the situation of club stalwart José Luis Morales. The veteran attacker, who turns 39 this summer, has seen his playing time dwindle dramatically under both Calero and now Castro. All signs point to the end of his Levante journey when his contract expires.