UPDATED: Rayo Vallecano transfer window analysis – what have Rayo done and what do they need to do?

In: Aridane (free, Osasuna), Pacha Espino (free, Cadiz), Florian Lejeune (Alaves), Sergio Camello (Atletico Madrid), Jorge de Frutos (Levante)

Loan returns: Randy Nteka (Elche), Joni Montiel (Levante), Bebe (Real Zaragoza)

Out: Santi Comesana (Villarreal), Alejandro Catena (Osasuna), Fran Garcia (Real Madrid), Sergio Camello (Atletico Madrid), Mario Suarez, Diego Lopez, Mario Hernandez and Esteban Saveljich (free)

Summary so far: The big loss is obviously Andoni Iraola, who exits the club with an historic legacy at Vallecas. Replacement Francisco probably isn’t the most inspiring replacement, but he has shown he can do a good job, either with teams at the top of the second division or in the bottom half of La Liga. He looked to play with a three central defenders at Elche last, but that may well have been resource-based.

The absence of Comesana is a major loss. Catena and Garcia were also stalwarts of both Iraola and this version of Rayo, while Lejeune and Camello were starters last year too – bringing back the Frenchman will provide vital continuity at the back, who are only replacing half of their back four now. Lejeune is good defender, and good on the ball, but will only look better in a Francisco side that is less likely to expose him.

Aridane coming in for free from Osasuna is a neat veteran pick up, and is likely to essentially swap places with Catena going the other way. Mario Suarez stopped contributing on the pitch a while ago, but the veteran midfielder was a good presence in the dressing room.

Top marks to Cobeno for bringing in Pacha Espino. The Uruguayan is a force of nature on the left, and arguably the best signing they could have made. Short of spending €10m or more, there’s little chance they would’ve found anyone better or more similar to the outgoing Garcia.

Kike Perez impressed at Real Valladolid last season, and while it is a temporary solution to Comesana’s exit, it is a strong one. Perez is technically good, has vision and an aggression that makes him useful without the ball too. While Comesana looked unorthodox at times (if no less effective), Perez runs hard and fast.

Bringing Camello back gives Francisco an alternative to Raul de Tomas, who probably needs to be pushed, and Camello performed well last season, if he did miss some chances. Jorge de Frutos has been one of the best providers in Spanish football over the last three seasons, and his signing leaves them looking tasty in the final third. It’s now on Franciso to work out exactly how to use them all in concert.

Key Need: Perhaps we were just stating the obvious, but credit to Cobeno for doing just that – sometimes rare in football. These sections were initially dedicated to a centre-forward and a midfielder to replace Comesana, but Kike Perez and Camello do just that.

Thus we turn our attention back to the defence. These needs are less crucial, but if we’re asking something of Rayo it should be this. A right-back to back-up Ivan Balliu. The former Barcelona full-back is one of the best in the division, but they have no natural alternative. Mario Hernandez struggled when called upon last season, but having left the builiding, they have just Balliu for the position.

Beneath the Surface: In central defence, it’s a much more simple equation. If Francisco does not trust Martin Pascual or Jorge Moreno, returning from loans at Ibiza and Cordoba respectively, then they should pick up an extra defender. Regardless of what formation they use, having just Abdul Mumin, Aridane and Lejeune as central defenders is risky.

We’re all for trusting the youngsters, every side should, and we’d be delighted if Pascual or Moreno do the job. Yet Francisco is not famed for his trust in them, and looking at where Rayo can still strengthen, this is where they should look.