Valencia Advances in Umar Sadiq Transfer Negotiations

Valencia has taken a pivotal step in the negotiations to acquire Umar Sadiq as a winter transfer reinforcement. According to Radio Marca Valencia, the blanquinegro club has reached an advanced agreement with Real Sociedad for the arrival of the Nigerian forward. Initially, Valencia’s first proposal was significantly below Real Sociedad’s expectations; however, it now appears that the Mestalla club is set to pursue the signing of Sadiq.

It is important to note that Valencia has been working on a parallel agreement with the player, which could potentially extend until 2028, aligning with his current contract with Real Sociedad, albeit with a reduced salary.

Negotiations between the two clubs have finally reached a stage of mutual understanding for the first time in several months. This follows a summer in which Valencia was unable to meet Real Sociedad’s demands, despite the player’s persistent efforts to secure a transfer throughout that period.

The precarious situation Valencia finds itself in within La Liga, following a loss to Celta that has seen them slip back into the relegation zone, has prompted a reassessment of the financial constraints within which the club is operating.

In December, Valencia revisited the possibility of bringing Umar Sadiq in during the January transfer window, initially tabled an offer of half a million for a loan and a mandatory purchase option of one million at season’s end, to which Real Sociedad did not respond. However, Valencia has now upped their offer to three million for a permanent transfer this January, including performance-related variables based on individual player objectives and the team’s final standings.

Having arrived on loan at Mestalla last January, Umar Sadiq has always prioritized a return to Valencia over the summer. This desire aligns with the ambitions of coach Carlos Corberán, who views the Nigerian as a viable option to enhance the team’s attacking capabilities, a critical area of concern in the first half of the season.

During the last days of August, Valencia attempted to shift their strategy toward a permanent transfer, but Real Sociedad outright rejected this approach. Ron Gourlay, the CEO of Football, clarified on the night of the transfer window closure: “Real Sociedad had been asking for a permanent transfer from the beginning. We aimed for a loan, but ultimately we did present a transfer offer for Sadiq, which was rejected by Real.”