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Rosales, last season.
Malaga optimistic of securing departures on busy deadline day

Malaga optimistic of securing departures on busy deadline day

Sporting director José Luis Caminero has until midnight tonight (Friday) to complete Malaga's new-look squad

ANTONIO GÓNGORA

Friday, 31 August 2018, 15:52

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The countdown has started to midnight tonight (Friday) as clubs in Spain frantically rush to complete their transfer dealings before the window slams shut.

For Malaga, perhaps more than most clubs, they have more pressing concerns with five players (Mehdi Lacen, Badr Boulahroud, Sead Hak¨abanovi, Dani Pacheco and Mamadou Koné) still not registered due to a surplus of players in the squad and the wage cap surpassed. Before any of these can pull on the blue and white shirt this season, the club needs to sell.

Sporting director José Luis Caminero has been working all summer to try and shift the deadwood from the squad but has faced several obstacles with the club standing firm by its belief that it will not give players away for nothing.

Roberto Rosales, the highest-profile player on the exit ramp, completed a loan to Catalan side Espanyol on Thursday. The Venezuelan, one of the club's longest-serving players, was initially part of coach Juan Ramón Muñiz's plans but expressed his desire to leave late in the summer.

Cenk Gönen's return to Turkey looks all-but sealed, but finding a destination for out-of-favour winger Adnane Tighadouini will prove more of a challenge as Malaga seek to recoup at least some of the money they spent on him.

A buyer also needs to be found for Juanpi who, despite being one of the highest earners in the squad, is not wanted by Muñiz.

One player who may also leave is last season's captain José Recio. The midfielder has started both games so far this new season but has attracted the interest of La Liga sides Leganés and Deportivo Alavés.

While Caminero is loath to losing a key man, the way in which deadline day progresses may force his hand.

It is not only outwards that movement could occur. Veteran Polish goalkeeper Pawel Kieszek is close to joining the Costa del Sol club after agreeing to have his contract with Cordoba terminated. The Andalusian club, however, would retain the option to resign him at the end of the season as part of the deal.

Whether the 34-year-old joins as a third or second choice depends on other transfers and whether current second choice Andrés Prieto, who is at present expected to line-up against Almeria on Monday in the absence of Munir who has been called up by Morocco for international duty, remains at the club or seals the move away that he has been craving.

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