Elche CF’s squad and coaching staff finished their break after last Tuesday’s match against Mirandes. Now it is the turn of the club’s owner, Christian Bragarnik, and the sports commission, which includes Sergio Mantecón, Mauro Óbolo and Antonio Barragán. The largest shareholder has promised three to four signings for the winter transfer window, which opens on January 2, to strengthen the team for the second half of the season and push for promotion back to the Second Division.
Elche is a bad Santa
The primary targets are a winger who can operate on either flank, preferably on the right, a striker, a centre-back, and a midfielder. Oscar Plano’s injury could also open the door for new arrivals. A second forward or playmaker is considered as well. Source: INFORMACION
Doctors Ripoll and De Prado successfully operated on Óscar Plano, who would be away from the field for six months.
The departure of three forwards who started last summer, including Ponce, Boyé and Milla, has left the current attackers with little goal production. Oscar Plano, the team’s top scorer with seven goals, has his injury adding pressure to Elche’s ambitions for the first half of the season. The squad currently sits well off the target, collecting around 30 points from a possible 63, and the club has struggled with both offense and depth—issues that extend back to the summer, including a missing right winger and the need for a more versatile front line. A center-back, Mario Gaspar, who has often played as a full-back, and Pedro Bigas as the other key defender, remain essential pieces in a crowded defensive setup. The team also requires a midfielder to balance the midfield and support transitions. Source: INFORMACION
With everyone, including the staff, on break, there is little time to waste. The moment calls for reinforcements; the club’s sports management has been empowered to act. Sergio Mantecón, Mauro Óbolo and Antonio Barragán are set to advance negotiations, and Bragarnik is expected to take the lead on contract discussions and final decisions. Source: INFORMACION
The owner of Elche CF recently confirmed that the winter market will begin on January 2, with three or four signings anticipated in January to address a gap created by a serious injury to the club’s top scorer. The principle remains clear: additions must be made to improve the squad and the roster depth. Source: INFORMACION
Bragarnik: “Elche will make 3 to 4 transfers in the winter market”
Elche currently has 23 players for 25 possible squad slots, leaving two vacancies. The club must trim the roster to reach its targets. While Murad’s commitment and effort are evident, he has not been able to convert chances into goals. After the injury wave this season, the club now needs two new forwards in addition to reinforcements in other areas. Source: INFORMACION
Players like Lautaro Blanco, Álex Martín and Raúl Guti are not currently counted on by coach Sebastián Beccacece. Elche’s scouting and market activity has been ongoing since the summer, with a particular focus on right-wing options. Valencia’s Fran Perez had become an option, moving from a single appearance last season to a full loan spell in which he became a regular starter and contributed a goal and several strong performances. Beccacece often uses Nico Fernández Mercau to fill Perez’s role when needed. In recent matches, Pérez’s absence due to suspension forced a shift in the lineup, with Adam called up from the youth ranks. Source: INFORMACION
Defensively, the right-back position has complicated things as well. The central pairing of Pedro Bigas and Mario Gaspar has seen Gaspar taking more of a right-back role, creating a need for balance across the defensive axis. The market’s difficulty is evident: players available at a high level command high prices, and Elche has to decide between selling and buying, especially given the budget from last August’s sales. Source: INFORMACION
The winter market presents a clear challenge. Players who are out of favor elsewhere may not be an upgrade, and price remains a barrier. Elche could lean toward selling to fund acquisitions, and Beccacece has called for agility in recruitment. The team’s first match after the break is scheduled for Tenerife on January 13, with players returning to training on December 27. The market officially opens the day after New Year’s Eve, and the club will be watching carefully to balance immediate needs with long-term squad planning. Source: INFORMACION