With those Manchester United links disappearing and Atletico Madrid talks stalling, one of European football’s genuine sleeping giants are doing their level best to dispense with that ‘selling club’ tag.
It can be a difficult reputation to shift.
Especially when, over the last 15 years, you have cashed in on Juan Mata, David Silva, David Villa, Nicolas Otamendi, Andre Gomes, Joao Cancelo, Ferran Torres, Carlos Soler and more.
But having lost only three senior players this summer – Eray Comert and back-up goalkeeper Cristian Rivero leaving on loan while Roman Yaremchuk’s deal expired – Valencia’s sporting director is as good as his word when he says Los Che are not in the market for sales.
Or, at least, not without first receiving an offer they first consider to be ‘irresistible’.
According to Marca, Manchester United scouted Javi Guerra during the first half of the 2023/24 La Liga campaign. Six months on, the Red Devils are still very much in the market for a midfielder.
But, amid ongoing speculation surrounding Manuel Ugarte and Sander Berge, Javi Guerra’s name is yet to re-appear.
Manchester United appear out of Javi Guerra race
The club which came closest to luring Guerra away from Valencia, it turned out, was Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Speaking to Plaza Deportivo, Valencia chief Miguel Angel Corona confirms that talks over a £21 million deal broke down however with Atleti unable to wriggle free of the bind they had got themselves in regarding Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
“On Tuesday, we asked the majority shareholder of Atletico for the reason for this delay (regarding Guerra). He tells us that they are trying to get out of the operation with Chelsea for Gallagher and that they need time,” Corona claims.
Atleti, seemingly, had no money left in the bank to sign both. Not after agreeing an £80 million deal with Man City for Julian Alvarez and also signing Villarreal’s former Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth.
“It is the first time that that they told us that both deals were linked,” adds Corona. “And so we decided to get out.”
The Valencia director also admits that the two-time Champions League finalists have ‘rejected three offers’ for Guerra now, plus a further two for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Now, having come so close to an agreement with Atletico, Corona is not entirely ruling out a departure for Guerra in the final month of the window.
But like when those Man United links emerged in the winter – Corona said that Valencia would ‘fight‘ to keep him – no sale will be considered unless a pretty substantial bid comes their way.
“These statements are within a context in which it was said that Manchester (United) was going to come with a lot of money for Guerra,” Corona adds when asked to comment on his earlier response to that Red Devils speculation.
“Everything is reviewable if there is a big offer.”
As things stand, Man United’s wait for a new midfielder goes on.
Interest in Burnley enforcer Berge has emerged over the last few days, though Ugarte remains the top target.
According to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg, discussions with PSG still have some breath left in the lungs, even if a sizeable gap remains between United’s offer and Ugarte’s £51 million price-tag.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
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