While Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid remain big fish within Spain, it is the Premier League that is generally the greatest threat to managers hoping to hang onto their best players. A big exit – or the income from one – can make or break a season for a Liga side, so here’s a look at some of the best players that managers in Spain’s top flight will be looking to hang onto.
Perhaps the best place to start is at Villarreal. They are trying to rebuild their squad, in part with the money from Alexander Sorloth’s exit to Atletico, but the orchestrator behind their attack is Alex Baena. With a €60m release clause, and leading the league for assists last year, it’s a surprise there hasn’t been more interest in him.
At Celta Vigo, young Swedish midfielder Williot Swedberg is starting to show the promise he was signed for, but Oscar Mingueza has become for the past year, perhaps their most crucial creative outlet outside of Iago Aspas. He has started off the season with two goals and two assists in three appearances.
Finding unheralded gems can be as difficult as getting reputable crypto casino sites, but it won’t be long before Europe’s top sides come calling for Cristhian Mosquera. Valencia coach Ruben Baraja will be delighted if he can build his defence around the 20-year-old, and even more pleasantly surprised if he can hold onto breakout midfielder Javi Guerra too. Pepelu might not be as young, but he is arguably the balancing component of Baraja’s midfield too.
Girona have already been raided for several of their success stories this summer, but Michel Sanchez will be desperate not to lose Ivan Martin or Daley Blind, who help knit their side together. An hour or two away in Pamplona, a younger core is coming through at Osasuna, and midfielder Iker Munoz is leading that change, but Aimar Oroz, Jesus Areso and Jorge Herrando will all be important this season.
Real Sociedad have fought off Liverpool for Martin Zubimendi, but after losing Robin Le Normand and likely Mikel Merino, a last-minute exit for Takefusa Kubo would be disastrous. Captain Mikel Oyarzabal and rising starlet Benat Turrientes are unlikely to go anywhere, but nevertheless will also be key for Imanol Alguacil.
Equally, Las Palmas have lost Saul Coco, Sergi Cardona, and are at risk of a third member of their defence in Mika Marmol exiting before the end of the window. Young talent Alberto Moleiro will be given more creative responsibility this season too, and captain Kirian Rodriguez was almost Toni Kroos-like in his importance to the islanders last year.
