Elche CF, guided by new coach Pablo Machín, is combining four to five signings with the winter window in mind. The aim is to alter the team’s current form and pull off a real escape from relegation threats.
The club and the coach share this ambition. New players are being brought into training as soon as possible to adapt quickly and be ready to contribute. The plan is to have them in action from January 2, when the winter market opens, to maximize their impact from the outset.
The Franjiverde setup and Machín have already drawn up a list of potentially interesting targets to fill key roles, including a central defender, two midfielders with the capacity to act as a holding or defensive midfielder, and a winger, ideally on the right, who can operate on either flank if needed.
From the sports commission, contacts have been made with several representatives to explore possibilities. Yet there are multiple hurdles. Elche’s precarious league position makes it less attractive to some players seeking brighter prospects, and representatives are reluctant to negotiate or propose squad changes until the World Cup is finished. This situation provides the club with a tempting reason to push forward with transfers despite the obstacles.
The Qatar event serves as a major football showcase, prompting many players to reassess their options. Once it concludes, the market is likely to gain momentum, with approaches to transfers that once seemed impossible. Any move to other clubs could trigger departures, and Elche remains cautious, aware it starts with a disadvantage relative to rivals.
Owner Bragarnik has historically tended to wait until the last minute to secure cheaper signings and therefore more attractive options.
The main shareholder in Qatar and with ties to Argentina after the World Cup sees potential moves, but the plans are still developing and remain tentative.
Bragarnik and the World Cup in Qatar While Monitoring Elche’s Fortunes
There is a sense of momentum as teams return to training this week. Players who do not show strong support for their coaches will evaluate their standing during the upcoming friendly matches and may seek opportunities elsewhere for more playing time.
Two free slots remain available.
Despite the departures of Pastore and Fede Fernández, Elche still holds two open transfer opportunities, waiting for the World Cup to finish to secure a place for additional reinforcements.
Fede Fernández and Pastore to Leave Elche
With the arrival of a new training phase, certain players have begun to make first-team minutes, while others are still in the process of evaluation. The club has limited licenses for immediate first-team use and is assessing options for development and depth.
The decision to move on from two Argentine internationals leaves two clear transfer chips in hand, with negotiations conducted directly by the owner with agents to ensure favorable terms.
These gaps are real, though not the only ones. The squad is still being assessed, and Machín intends to observe and learn during the initial two weeks of training before making final calls. A clearer lineup should emerge soon, and additional players from the current squad may be informed in the coming days that they are not counted for second-division competition.
Roco and Tete Morente, previously on the radar, have sustained injuries, so their situations will not be hurried.