And if theUD Almeria became OM’s “mercato partner” this winter? It’s not impossible, a bit like what has been done in the last two seasons Pablo Longoria with Roma (Lopez, Under, Veretout). A kind of privileged interlocutor to complete transfers, but this time in the opposite direction. Indeed, it has been announced for several days that Luis Suarez loan to Almeria was closed, and it has been since Monday with a purchase option in the event of maintenance. The Colombian, out of OM, was a real priority for the Andalusian club, and the deal was done quickly. A club which, despite its relatively modest stature in Spain and its 14th place in La Liga, displays real ambition headed by a certain Turki Al-Sheikh, a senior Saudi dignitary in his state and owner of the club since 2019. A high-minded character colour, which had also tried to buy Manchester United, and more recently… Amiens. But, after start-up prices, the Almeria project is taking shape following the accession last summer, and the transfer window envelope is not negligible.
The telephone heats up between La Commanderie and the south of Spain, including for Pape Gueye
Indeed, if Almeria is not a La Liga giant, far from it, it potentially has the means to afford very good players. This is particularly what happened last summer with the young striker from Reims El-Bilal Touré (9 M€) and the two Brazilians Kaiky (Santos) and Lazaro (Flamengo), recruited for around the same sum. However, the FROM is far from having ensured its maintenance, and it is in this sense that it wishes to strengthen and recruiter also Pape Gueye. The Senegalese international from OM is even Almeria’s priority as a defensive midfielder, according to our information. We do not know if it would be a transfer or a loan with a mandatory purchase option, but we would rather opt for the second possibility, knowing that the club is not guaranteed to maintain itself. The fact remains that the telephone is heating up between La Commanderie and the south of Spain, and that relations have been established for this winter in order to bring these two players out on the market. A win-win relationship, since OM are offloading while Almeria is strengthening. The Longoria-Ribalta duo must sell, or at least obtain sales guarantees for next summer, and the establishment of this new 100% Spanish network may be a solution…