Valencia is finally spending money in the transfer market this summer, with the addition of the winger Luis Rioja. Los Che have been on their way since December, and now it looks like they are going to get the deal over the line.
Ace for ReliefRioja will sign a three-year deal at Mestalla. The 30-year-old has been at Alaves for the past five years and has been a near-constant source of production for El Glorioso. Last season he registered nine goal contributions in La Liga in 37 appearances.
LAST MINUTE❗#Alavés
(Via @MatteMoretto on twitch @sollievu)Alavés are very interested in Valencia's Turkish centre-back Cenk. They are in open negotiations. pic.twitter.com/uQy6iwFvfm
— • (@GxlDelKaiser) August 20, 2024
The deal will cost him around €1.3 million in total, after Rioja agreed terms a few months ago, despite interest from Osasuna and RCD Mallorca. Alaves are now exploring their options to replace him with Torino's Nemanja Radonjic.
Talks between the two sides are not over yet, with Matteo Moretto saying that Alaves are interested in Valencia centre-back Cenk Ozkacar, who Los Che are trying to move on.
The addition of Rioja comes in the nick of time, as The frustration of Ruben Baraja was beginning to boil over the lack of additions. Currently their options are limited to Sergi Canos, Fran Perez, Diego Lopez and Hugo Gonzalez out, although Rafa Mir operated there in his first match.
