Real Mallorca ready to face summer transfer window

It’s been a rather strange build up to the summer transfer window for Real Mallorca this year. It’s become a part of the script that every year, no matter how well the club have done, they are ripped apart with all the best players being sold on for a life saving cash injection. But the waters are rather more serene this year.

Granted, Mallorca are not yet fully solvent. They do still need to sell. Despite turning around a €16.1 million loss from the previous year to a €7.2 million profit this year, the figure was highly flattered by the €4 million worth of profit from the Jonathan de Guzmán transfer. But despite this, and despite the eternal infighting between Board members, we’ve had a surprisingly positive start to the summer.

First of all, the heart of the team have all signed one year contract extensions. Head Coach Joaquín Caparrós, along with veterans José Nunes and Pep Martí, will all be at the club for another year. Caparrós’ signature alone was deemed a major coup with reported interest from Sevilla and Valencia.

Defenders

With the renewal of the Head Coach in the bag, Caparrós started to plan for the next season with Director of Football Llorenç Serra Ferrer. It was widely expected that the option to extend Pablo Cáceres’ contract would not be taken up in the summer. And it was widely expected that Martí Crespí too would be released after failing to establish himself in the team. But the club shocked everyone by announcing that Pau Cendrós’ contract would not be renewed either. Levante are keen to take the right back to Valencia.

This is set to leave Mallorca quite short in defence with Gianni Zuiverloon set to leave the club too. Ajax are keen on taking the former West Brom defender back to the Netherlands. This would leave just Nunes and Ramis as recognised first team defenders. What we can expect is for Kevin García to fill the gap left by Cáceres. And Pedro Bigas will always be available as understudy if Serra Ferrer fails to find a replacement. Mallorca are also trying to secure the permanent transfer of on-loan defender Chico Flores, but talks are constantly being stalled down to Genoa’s own institutional problems.

This one is still far too early to call. No real targets have been named as of yet.

Midfielders

French winger Michael Pereira recently spoke of his intention to leave the club. This wasn’t well received by the powers that be who want to keep hold of 24-year-old. Apparently Pereira is keen to return to France to ply his trade, but judging by the type of agent Pereira employs, an increase to the £3,200 per week contract that he has may be enough to persuade him to stay.

The other expected departure was Uruguayan winger Chori Castro. But in a surprising turnaround, the two opened contract negotiations after Chori Castro told both Caparrós and Serra Ferrer that he wanted to stay. Mallorca have agreed to a small increase on his £16,500 per week deal and are happy with his demand of a four-year deal. But the stumbling block has arisen over his request of a signing fee. That request stands at £800,000. This deal could go either way yet.

On-loan Fernando Tissone is also keen to stay. He’s said it on enough occasions. But despite his intention to stay on the island for ‘several more years,’ his situation is complicated by Italian ownership issues. His rights are shared between Udinese and Sampdoria and he won’t know until the 25th June which will buy the other 50%. Udinese are in the Champions League and thus unlikely to want the Argentinian, but Sampdoria have just been promoted to Serie A so the chances are they will. Caparrós is happy to keep Tissone, but it’s not a top priority. So with that, mixed with ownership issues, we can safely say Tissone will not be here next year.

The futures of João Victor and Sergio Tejera are uncertain too. The Brazilian found himself out of favour under Caparrós, and although there is no talk of his depature, it wouldn’t be too surprising. Whereas former Chelsea midfielder Sergio Tejera has also struggled under Caparrós. Whilst the coach isn’t too concerned whether the young Spaniard stays or goes, Serra Ferrer is keen to keep the midfielder whose contract expires next summer. The club have opened contract negotiations with Tejera, but if they fail he will leave this summer with Espanyol the most likely destination.

Strikers

Without doubt this is an area which needs strengthening. This is the area that needs strengthening. Mallorca failed to score in just under a third of their La Liga matches last season, and they failed to score more than once in a staggering 71% of matches (27 in 38).

Last summer Serra Ferrer brought in Tomer Hemed who, despite not drowning in La Liga as some expected, is certainly not a free-flowing goalscorer. Serra Ferrer also shelled out €2.8 million on Racing Genk striker Marvin Ogunjimi who failed to impress Caparrós and dropped to fourth choice in the pecking order.

Hemed and Víctor will be joined by Álvaro Giménez in the first team this year. But Serra Ferrer is keen to add another striker. The club have been linked with Aritz Aduriz, but this would be very surprising. But Serra Ferrer has reaffirmed his interest in Atlético Madrid striker Diego Costa.

What we can expect to see is the departure of Ogunjimi. Mallorca have received interest from clubs in England, Belgium and Spain for the ostracised 24-year-old.

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