Valencia's winter window: Patching up summer's transfer howlers
Los Che's winter business focused on fixing previous recruitment errors, bringing in Sadiq, Núñez and Guido Rodríguez to strengthen their relegation-threatened squad.
Valencia have spent the January transfer window frantically fixing the cock-ups from their summer recruitment drive, bringing in three key signings to bolster a squad that’s been flirting with the relegation zone all season.
Plugging the holes
The Mestalla outfit completed deals for Umar Sadiq, Unai Núñez and Guido Rodríguez in a clear admission that their summer planning was well short of the mark. Carlos Corberán’s side had hoped to make even more additions - particularly a winger or right-back - but couldn’t free up enough squad space with Raba, Santamaría and Ramazani all staying put.
“The bulk of our market business is done,” Corberán claimed before the Betis defeat, with CEO Ron Gourlay later adding it was “unlikely” more moves would materialise. Valencia did keep an eye out for late opportunities, but without much hope after realising none of their potential departures would be heading for the exit door.
The new boys
Sadiq arrived first, addressing a striker shortage that had existed since summer. Corberán had specifically requested the Nigerian, but lowball offers and Real Sociedad’s firm stance scuppered any deal back then. Ironically, Valencia are now paying a similar fee to what they refused to cough up five months ago. The silver lining? They’ve discovered Lucas Beltrán in the meantime, with the club potentially interested in keeping him if Fiorentina make it viable.
Unai Núñez came next, filling a crucial gap in central defence. The position became a priority due to Diakhaby’s fitness concerns, Copete’s poor start, and Tárrega’s drop in form. Initially, the plan was to swap Comert for a left-footed defender, but Diakhaby’s injury changed everything. Valencia secured Núñez on loan from Celta (after terminating his Hellas Verona loan), while Comert dropped to fourth-choice.
Guido Rodríguez’s arrival addressed their summer failure to secure a proper defensive midfielder. After Barrenechea’s loan ended and Guillamón was discarded, they signed Baptiste Santamaría, who hasn’t lived up to expectations - neither defensive nor offensive enough. Rodríguez, struggling for minutes at West Ham, had to sacrifice part of his wages to secure the move, with Valencia paying a small transfer fee to keep him until at least June.
Looking ahead
Valencia also have two summer deals in the pipeline. Dutch centre-back Justin de Haas will join on a free transfer from Famalicão when his contract expires in June - reportedly a left-footed defender with good ball-playing abilities. Additionally, they’ve reached a preliminary agreement with Malian midfielder Aliou Dieng, whose contract with Egypt’s Al-Ahly ends this summer. Both are seen as cost-effective market opportunities to strengthen the squad without transfer fees.
Corberán now faces the delicate task of managing players like Raba and Santamaría, who know their playing time will be limited for the remainder of the season. For Valencia, it’s been a winter of damage control - fixing last summer’s transfer blunders to give themselves a fighting chance of staying clear of the drop zone.