Guido Rodríguez’s Transfer to Valencia Faces Challenges

The potential transfer of Guido Rodríguez to Valencia, which seemed promising earlier this week, has begun to cool due to a series of economic and sporting challenges complicating the deal for now. Although the 31-year-old Argentine midfielder remains the top choice for the Valencia coaching staff, discussions with West Ham United have not progressed, leading to a loss of the initial optimism.

It is confirmed that the player is keen on returning to La Liga for more playing time until the end of the season, which would enhance his chances of being included in Argentina’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. However, there are contractual and salary-related issues that are hindering the agreement. West Ham’s manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, who previously managed Valencia under Peter Lim from 2014 to 2015, is reluctant to let the player go unless he secures a replacement first. Despite Rodríguez’s limited involvement this season, he has played in the final minutes of the last two matches, including a crucial victory against Tottenham, indicating that he is not entirely sidelined.

West Ham is only willing to release Rodríguez through a transfer, either immediate or deferred, before June 30, as his contract runs until June 2026. This presents additional challenges for Valencia in fitting the deal within their financial fair play constraints. They are also facing competition from Gremio of Porto Alegre, which has made an offer of around three million euros according to some Brazilian media, alongside an interest from Atlanta United in MLS, managed by Argentine coach Tata Martino.

In Valencia’s sporting management, caution is taking precedence over urgency, particularly in the central defense where recent summer reinforcements like Santamaría and Ramazani have not integrated well into the squad.

However, Valencia does not rule out a change in the situation, reminiscent of Umar Sadiq’s transfer, which appeared impossible last December. This would depend on approval from Singapore to enhance their offer and present an attractive salary package to the former Betis player. Meanwhile, other options are being explored to ensure they find a more suitable fit.

West Ham, fighting for survival, is set to play against Sunderland on Saturday, and no inquiries regarding Guido Rodríguez were made during Nuno’s pre-match press conference on Thursday, where other market topics were discussed. “The club knows the profiles we want as we need to rebalance the team. We will continue to work until the market closes,” he stated generically.

As reported by MARCA, Valencia is also considering the option of Aliou Dieng, a 28-year-old Malian midfielder from Al Ahly in Egypt. Dieng fits the physical profile of a positional pivot that Valencia is looking to integrate this season. However, there are concerns about his adaptation to La Liga and his ability to deliver immediate results as desired by coach Corberán. Currently, after participating in the Africa Cup, he is called up for the upcoming African Champions League match against Young Africans from Tanzania.