It’s almost July 1 when contracts expire and the transfer frenzy begins, so here’s what’s been happening in Spain’s La Liga and what the big clubs need to do before the window closes.
FC Barcelona
Signings: Keirrison (Santos – Loan Return)
Departures: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan - €24m Permanent), Martin Caceres (FC Sevilla - €3m)
The champions appear to have two things in mind for this European summer and they are Udinese’s Alexis Sanchez and Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas. The former looks more likely to sign than the latter, but if either sign they will look incredibly tough to stop.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola looks set to lose striker Bojan Krkic who is tired of taking a backseat to Barca’s plethora of stars.
Real Madrid
Signings: Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund - €10m), Hamit Altintop (Bayern Munich – Free), Jose Callejon (Espanyol - €5.5m), Raphael Varane (Racing Lens - €10m)
Departures: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City – Loan Return)
Los Merengues have been typically busy so far this off-season, with the addition of young stars Nuri Sahin, Raphael Varane and Jose Callejon, while Brazilian young star Neymar is the next target.
Jose Mourinho is believed to also be keen on Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao, while Sergio Canales and Pedro Leon have been linked with moves away from the Bernabeu.
Valencia
Signings: Diego Alves (Almeria - €3m), Daniel Parejo (Getafe - €5m), Adil Rami (Lille – Loan Return)
Departures: Cesar Sanchez (Villarreal – Free), Miguel Angel Moya (Getafe – Loan), Joaquin (Malaga - €4.2m), Marius Stankevicius (Sampdoria – Loan Return)
The departure of Spanish midfielder Joaquin to Malaga leaves Unai Emery with some money to spend and he’s already added Getafe star Daniel Parejo while there has been speculation linking Los Che with Real Madrid’s Pedro Leon. Valencia will be desperate to hang onto Juan Mata.
Villarreal
Signings: Cesar Sanchez (Valencia - Free)
Departures: Ivan Marcano (Olympiacos – Loan), Javier Matilla (Real Betis - €1.2m), Jefferson Montero (Real Betis – Loan), Cicinho (AS Roma – Loan Return)
The Yellow Submarine have been fairly quiet this close season, but one of the big challenges will be hanging onto talented Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi who had a breakout season last term. Cesar Sanchez has arrived for Valencia as a back-up keeper. Villarreal have also been linked with Udinese’s Colombian international defender Cristian Zapata.
FC Sevilla
Signings: Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV – Free), Manu del Moral (Getafe - €4.5m), Martin Caceres (FC Barcelona - €3m), Coke (Rayo Vallecano - €1.7m)
Departures: Renato (Botafogo – Free), Sergio Sanchez (Malaga - €2.8m), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor – Undisclosed), Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo - Undisclosed)
There’s been some major changes at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this European summer, with Luis Fabiano departing for Brazil, while Frederic Kanoute has been linked with a move away too. Didier Zokora has already left for Turkey, while the addition of German international midfielder Piotr Trochowski and forward Manu del Moral will add some quality to the line-up.
Atletico Madrid
Signings: Silvio Pereira (Sporting Braga - €8m), Gabi (Real Zaragoza - €3m), Joao Mirando (Sao Paulo – Free), Sergio Asenjo (Malaga – Loan Return)
Departures: Ibrahima Balde (Osasuna – Free), Tomas Ujfalusi (Galatasaray - €2m), David de Gea (Manchester United - €20m), Tiago Mendes (Juventus – Loan Return)
The departure of goalkeeper David de Gea to Manchester United has been the big news at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, meaning new boss Gregorio Manzano will need to find a safe pair of hands and Sergio Asenjo return from Malaga may be timely. Meanwhile, defender Tomas Ujfalusi has left while Sergio Aguero has been linked with a move away too.
Athletic Bilbao
Signings: Ander Herrera (Real Zaragoza – €7.5m)
Departures: none
Bilbao’s attention this summer has been on the forthcoming presidential elections which have put boss Joaquin Caparros position at stake despite last season’s sixth place finish. Former Chile boss Marcelo Bielsa has been linked with the post. Striker Fernando Llorente has also been linked with a switch away from the Basque Country.
Real Betis
Signings: Javier Chica (Espanyol – Free), Mario Alvarez (Getafe – Free), Javier Matilla (Villarreal - €1.2m), Fabricio Agosta (Valladolid – Free), Jefferson Montero (Villarreal - Loan)
Departures: David Odonkor (Karlsruhe SC – Free), Fran No (Valladolid – Free), Israel (Xerez – Free), Roversio (Osasuna – Loan Return), Miguel Lopes (FC Porto – Loan Return)
Pepe Mel’s Segunda Division champions have added some midfield talent in Jefferson Montero and Javier Matilla. The boss himself recently penned a new three-year deal.
Espanyol
Signings: Didac Vila (AC Milan – Loan), Juan Angel Albin (Getafe - €3m), Adrian Luna (Defensor - €1.5m), Marvin Zeegelaar (Ajax Amsterdam – Free), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar - €4m)
Departures: Jose Callejon (Real Madrid - €5.5m), Javier Chica (Real Betis – Free)
Mauricio Pochettino’s Catalan side finished a commendable eighth last term, but losing key man Jose Callejon is a blow. Espanyol have spent already this off-season with Mexican defender Hector Moreno a big signing, while hanging onto keeper Carlos Kameni will be important.
Getafe
Signings: Diego Castro (Sporting Gijon – Free), Mehdi Lacen (Racing Santander – Free), Juan Rodriguez (Deportivo Coruna – Free), Miguel Angel Moya (Valencia – Loan), Michelangelo Albertazzi (AC Milan – Loan), Alberto Lopo (Deportivo Coruna - Loan)
Departures: Manu del Moral (FC Sevilla - €4.5m), Juan Angel Albin (Espanyol - €3m), Daniel Parejo (Valencia - €5m), Mario Alvarez (Real Betis – Free), Ivan Marcano (Villarreal – Loan Return), Derek Boateng (Dnipro - €6m), Victor Sanchez (FC Barcelona – Loan Return)
The exit of regulars Manu del Moral, Juan Angel Albin and Daniel Pareja this European summer has been a blow for Getafe, but Luis Garcia Plaza has bolstered his squad with a number of shrewd free transfers while they’ve been linked with a loan move for Real Madrid’s Pablo Sarabia.
Granada
Signings: Guilherme Siqueira (Udinese - Free)
Departures: Alexandre Geijo (Udinese – Loan Return), Carlos Calvo (Udinese – Loan Return), Jonathan Mensah (Udinese – Loan Return), Fabian Orellana (Udinese – Loan Return), Odion Ighalo (Udinese – Loan Return), Juande (Real Betis – Loan Return)
The newly-promoted side have seen a number of players depart the club already since promotion due to loans expiring. Odion Ighalo’s return to Udinese is a major blow.
Levante
Signings: Jose Javier Barkero (Numancia – Free), Felipe Caicedo (Manchester City - €1m – Permanent), Francisco Farinos (Hercules – Free), Miguel Pallardo (Getafe - Permanent)
Departures: Manolo Reina (Cartagena – Free), Jefferson Montero (Villarreal – Loan Return), Javi Torres (Malaga – Loan Return), Christian Stuani (Reggina – Loan Return), Asier del Horno (Valencia – Loan Return), Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia – Loan Return)
Luis Garcia has moved on at Levante, with ex-Cartagena manager Juan Ignacio Martinez appointed to the top job. Securing Felipe Caicedo and Miguel Pallardo has been good business.
Malaga
Signings: Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich - €3m), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Hamburg SV – Free), Nacho Monreal (Osasuna - €6m), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV - €1m), Jeremy Toulalan (Olympique Lyon - €10m), Sergio Sanchez (FC Sevilla - €2.8m), Joaquin (Valencia - €4.2m), Diego Buonanotte (River Plate - Undisclosed)
Departures: Manu Torres (Cartagena – Free), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd – Loan Return), Sergio Asenjo (Atletico Madrid – Loan Return)
It’s been a busy off-season for Malaga who are owned by big-spending Qatari businessmen these days. After a strong finish to last term they’ve added some big names including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan and Joaquin. Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla has reportedly been targetted too.
Real Mallorca
Signings: Tomer Hemed (Maccabi Haifa - Free)
Departures: Ruben Gonzalez (Osasuna – Free), Oscar Trejo (Sporting Gijon – Free), Ayoze Diaz (Deportivo Coruna – Free), Javi Castellano (Las Palmas – Free), Sergi Enrich (Recreativo Huelva – Loan)
Mallorca boss Michael Laudrup appears content with what he’s got at the Iberostar. They have lost defender Ayoze to Deportivo, however have added Israeli striker Tomer Hemed.
Osasuna
Signings: Ibrahima Balde (Atrletico Madrid – Free), Ruben Gonzalez (Real Mallorca – Free), Marc Bertran (Tenerife – Free), Nino (Tenerife - Free)
Departures: Nacho Monreal (Malaga - €6m), Ferran Corominas (Espanyol – Loan Return)
The Pamplona-based club look to have lost key defender Nacho Monreal to Malaga, in a major blow for boss Jose Luis Mendilibar but he has secured Ruben Gonzalez and Marc Bertran.
Racing Santander
Signings: none
Departures: Mehdi Lacen (Getafe – Free), Fabio Coltorti (Lausanne – Free), Henrique (FC Barcelona – Loan Return), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena – Loan Return), Marcus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen – Loan Return), Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham – Loan Return)
Hector Cuper is back in Spain as Racing boss and he’s got some players to replace following the exits of defender Henrique, midfielder Mehdi Lacen and attackers Marcus Rosenberg and Giovani dos Santos.
Rayo Vallecano
Signings: Samuel Llorca (Elche - Free)
Departures: Coke (FC Sevilla - €1.7m), Oscar Trejo (Real Mallorca – Loan Return), Emiliano Armenteros (FC Sevilla – Loan Return), Antonio Amaya (Wigan – Loan Return), Brayan Angulo (Leixoes – Loan Return)
Jose Ramon Sandoval’s newly promoted side have already lost Coke to Sevilla, while topscorer Emiliano Armenteros is on his way out too. They will need to bolster their squad.
Real Sociedad
Signings: Liassine Cadamuro (Sanse - Undisclosed)
Departures: Diego Rivas (Hercules – Free), Raul Tamudo (released)
Frenchman Philippe Montanier has taken over at San Sebastian and one of his key tasks will be holding onto exciting youngster Antoine Griezmann who has been linked with Real Madrid. Diego Rivas moving to Hercules is a blow too.
Sporting Gijon
Signings: Damien Suarez (Defensor - €430k), Ricardo Leon (Tenerife – Free), Oscar Trejo (Real Mallorca - Free)
Departures: Diego Castro (Getafe – Free), Rafel Sastre (Huesca – Free), Andre Castro (FC Porto – Loan Return)
Promising left-back Jose Angel looks set to move to AS Roma in a blow to Manuel Preciado’s side. Gijon, though, have been busy adding Ricardo Leon and Oscar Trejo.
Real Zaragoza
Signings: Edu Oriol (FC Barcelona B – Free), Abraham Minero (FC Barcelona B - Free)
Departures: Gabi (Atletico Madrid - €3m), Florent Sinama-Pongolle (Sporting Lisbon – Loan Return), Abel Aguilar (Udinese – Loan Return), Marco Perez (Boyaca Chico – Loan Return), Nicolas Bertolo (Palermo – Loan Return), Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao – €7.5m), Jiri Jarosik (released)
Javier Aguirre’s Zaragoza side have undergone major changes so far this off-season with several key departures including Ander Herrera, Jiri Jarosik, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Nicolas Bertolo and Gabi. It’s obvious Aguirre has a big job ahead after the club applied to go into administration too.
