Three forwards on Valencia list?

Borja Baston, Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Orellana are the three forwards considered by Valencia for next season with Alvaro Negredo a doubt.

Super Deporte reports that with Valencia not likely to return to the Champions League, the club has about €20m less to work with, a significant chunk of their €116m budget.

But sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch will be allowed to do his job, unlike last summer, when owner Peter Lim gave power to Nuno Santo, the then-Coach, and agent Jorge Mendes.

Pitarch is looking at a number of areas of the team but the centre-forward selection is one that is getting a lot of attention.

There’s a feeling Negredo might be tempted to China in a Jackson Martinez-like fashion, and so the Valencia squad would need bolstering.

Pitarch’s preferred option is Borja Baston, on loan at Eibar from Atletico Madrid, but Atletico’s pending transfer embargo complicates matters.

If Atletico are able to sign over the summer then Baston could be available, as the capital club want a striker with the money they received for Jackson.

Sanabria, on loan at Sporting Gijon from Roma, has also entered the equation after impressing while at El Molinon.

Orellana, meanwhile, has been watched four times by Valencia, most recently on Saturday at Real Madrid, but represents a different option as he is more of a wide player.

Valencia have also watched Celta defender Gustavo Cabral more than once and his contract expires in the summer, but Celta could renew.

There is also a question mark over the Coach as Gary Neville might not be renewed, and Aitor Karanka has entered the options.

Tags Antonio Sanabria Borja Baston Fabian Orellana
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