In: Manu Morlanes (Villarreal), Toni Lato (Valencia), Omar Mascarell (Elche), Cyle Larin (Real Valldolid), Siebe van der Heyden (Union Saint-Gilloise), Sergi Darder (Espanyol), Samu Costa (Almeria)
Loan returns: Braian Cufre (New York City), Javi Llabres (Mirandes)
Out: Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta (Athletic Club), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Rostov), Kadewere (Olympique Lyon), Ludwig Augustinsson (Sevilla), Angel Rodriguez (Tenerife), Leo Roman (loan, Real Oviedo), Matija Nastasic (free), Lee Kang-In (Paris Saint-Germain), Jordi Mboula (free, Hellas Verona), Iddrisu Babba (loan, Almeria)
Summary so far: It’s not easy to find fault with a very impressive looking Real Mallorca so far. Morlanes is decent La Liga-level midfielder, as is Mascarell. The latter gives their centre of the park a good bit of ballast, and is the sort of player that does the simple things well – the type of player that Javier Aguirre loves. The same can be said of Samu Costa, who arrived at the expense of Babba, but was a key performer for the Andalusians last summer. Mascarell and Costa are muscle and steel for Aguirre, who requires that in the middle.
Toni Lato is a good long-term option at left-back, who will compete with Jaume Costa. The loss of de Galarreta is covered by those additions, even if he was a very useful midfielder. In losing Kadewere, Mallorca lose a raw pace option off the bench which could really mix things up for them, but they have replaced him with Larin, who very nearly kept Real Valladolid up in the space of just six months last season. In him and Vedat Muriqi, Mallorca now possess two of the most effective forwards in the division.
Same story with Nastasic. The Serbian was never a regular, but did pass 1,200 minutes last season – instead they have signed van der Heyden, who was holding his own in the Europa League quarter-finals four months ago, and was only knocked out by Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
The big question was how reduce the loss of Kang-In Lee. The South Korean starlet left for Paris Saint-Germain, and Aguirre’s plans last season were centred around making the best use of his technical ability. So they brought in one of the best midfielders in the league last year in Sergi Darder. Similarly to Larin, Darder nearly dragged Los Pericos to safety on his own last season. Always a European level player, it’s hard not to wonder if he can bring Los Bermellones up to his level this season.
Key Need: Real Mallorca tend to use three central defenders, and while they perhaps do not need all positions doubled with just one game a week most of the time, they only have five. One of those is Jose Gaya from the academy who has little experience at the age of 23.
In order to actually improve their starting XI though, they would maybe have to spend more than they want. Van der Heyden, Jose Copete, Martin Valjent and captain Antonio Raillo are all solid, imposing figures, it’s probably only worth signing if it is quality.
Beneath the Surface: Mallorca have solved both of the original areas highlighted here, in another forward (Larin), and another central defender (van der Heyden). Sporting Director Pablo Ortells can consider our cap dothed.
Bearing that in mind, this can be considered nitpicking, yet maybe they want a midfielder or forward who is comfortable out wide. Aguirre’s system relies on Costa, now Lato, Pablo Maffeo and Giovanni Gonzalez supplying the ball from out wide, or one of the central midfielders drifting wider.
When Mallorca are pursuing a goal, perhaps they will want to double up out wide at times, and a natural winger might be able to provide a different type of cross. If they have any cash burning a hole in their metaphorical pocket.
