Various reliable sources are reporting that Sergi Canós is close to a done deal, with Lim finally giving the ok and the clubs exchanging documentation.
Canós grew up just up the road from Valencia in the south of Castellon province in a Valencia-supporting family, has supported Valencia all his life and names David Villa as his idol. That's all positive since he's well motivated to come. Valencia were interested in adding him to the academy when he was 12, but he joined Barcelona instead before switching to Liverpool's academy.
He's good experience with most of his career spent in England and a couple of seasons in the top flight for Brentford, making over 200 appearances for them in the top two levels and scoring their first ever Premier League goal. He is predominantly a winger, mainly on the right but has also been used as left winger, attacking midfield, right wing back and second striker. A useful utility player in other words. Baraja had targetted him since the early summer but it's only now that Lim has given the ok, with Valencia due to pay 250k.
What has helped unlock the deal is that Račić seems gone. He was spotted in Valencia airport today apparently on his way to sign for Sassuolo in Italy for a fee which various sources put between 1 million and 3 million.
He joined us from Belgrade in 2018 for 2.2 million, but with the midfield then including Parejo, Kondogbia, Coquelin, Soler and Wass, his chances were limited. It was only after Lim gutted the midfield in 2020 that he finally got his chance, playing nearly 60 league games over the next two seasons under Gracia and Bordalas, with his only league goal a memorable one against Atletico. However, he's spent most of his 5 years with us on loan and various coaches just don't seem to rate him for reasons that aren't clear. (Performances in training? Attitude? We will never know.)
Hopefully Valencia can get the Canós deal closed then the next in line are Selim Amallah in midfield and Rafa Mir up front. We badly need to expand the squad and get in experienced players.