THE MARKET WILL BE OPEN SOON

3rd April 2004 -- The season is coming to an end and summer is not too
far. This implies that the hectic players transfer market will be at its
best soon enough. It is time for Deportivo to think about next season,
take the calculator out and begin with the negotiations.


This season the club had a budget of 12 million Euro devoted to transfers
and loans. Also, president Lendoiro made clear that it is his intention
to gradually reduce the number of players in the squad from 35 to 22 or
23 field players, plus a third goalkeeper.


All these footballers cannot be loan for 12 million only. Therefore, there
will probably be a new "case Makaay", that is to say, one of the stars
could be sold. But the question remains: Who will be the one? Furthermore,
the club also has a debt of 178 million Euro, and in consequence Lendoiro
realises that those players who are not regularly used should be sold.


It seems obvious that players such as Ivan Perez or Amavisca will be sold.
The club will save money on their contracts, but Depor will hardly make
any extra money selling them. Songo'o was also on that initial list, although
rumours now indicate that he could still remain one more year as the third
keeper.


Secondly, the club must study the possibility of selling now players who
will end their contract in 2005. Otherwise they would go free next year and
Depor would not take profit in that. A number of players are on this "second
list", such as: Victor, Djalminha, Naybet, Hector, Jaime, Mauro, Fran and
Djorovic. Nevertheless, it seems clear that Victor, Mauro and Fran will
remain in the club for the time to come, while Jaime and Djorovic will
surely leave. Djalminha's problems with the tax office also makes it
difficult for him to leave Depor right now. He has to sort out his personal
issues first before he can be involved in further financial transactions.
Naybet and Hector - both respected players in the Liga - are the best options
for Depor in order to make good cash.


Other players will probably be re-loaned, since it could be problematic to
find a good buyer for them. In these list Djorovic is also included,
alongside Dani Mallo, Acuna, Jose Manuel, Abreu, Changui and Munoz. Munua
will still be the second keeper for Depor next year.


The "new Makaay" could be Luque. Barca have indeed placed an offer for him,
but Lendoiro considers the offer of 10 million Euro as ridiculous. Besides,
the club do not want to lose Luque, and some indicate that it would rather
be Tristan or Pandiani leaving Depor before the Catalan does.


In any case, to date these simply are speculations, but they are nonetheless
indicative of what could happen in the months to come.


Not frequently used players will not have a future in Depor. Yet, whatever
happens with Depor regulars or Depor stars remains in the head of Lendoiro
and Lendoiro only. Also, it must not be forgotten that the club is running
parallel negotiations addressed to solve the issue of the debt, where extra
incomes would result in not having to sell any regular.