As has been the case most of the summer, it was FC Porto who hogged most of the headlines on the final day of the transfer window, boosting their squad with the acquisition of Mexican pair Jesús Corona and Miguel Layún.
Sporting and Benfica can also consider transfer deadline day a success, given that they managed to hold onto their top players – William Carvalho/André Carrillo and Nico Gaitán respectively – despite speculation throughout the close season that they would be sold.
“Signing for a team like Porto means a lot to me and for my career,” said winger Corona after his €10.5m switch from Dutch club Twente. “I hope to adapt quickly and give the coach and the fans plenty of reasons to celebrate and I promise to work hard on and off the pitch.”
The 22-year-old’s strongest asset is his mesmerising dribbling skills. He may replace the misfiring Cristian Tello on the right wing, or fellow wide man Brahimi, freeing the Algerian to move infield to a No10 role.
Left-back problem solved?
As for Layún, the 27-year-old’s impact on Porto’s team would appear to be much more straightforward. He can play on either flank and will almost certainly slot into the left-back position recently vacated by Alex Sandro’s sale to Juventus, with Cissokho’s solitary and disastrous display against Marítimo suggesting he is not up to the task.
Layún arrives at the Estádio do Dragão on a one-year loan with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for a €6m fee.
“I feel happy to be here and to be part of this great team. I’m eager to start training and to fight for a starting spot. Emotionally, I feel great, which will help me be at my best on the pitch,” said the 31-time capped Mexico international.
Housecleaning
Porto also took advantage of deadline day to shed several players deemed surplus to requirements. Adrián López (Villareal), Quintero (Rennes), Hernâni (Olympiakos) and Ricardo Pereira (Nice) were all loaned out, while centre-back Rolando was sold to Marseille in a permanent deal.
Also leaving Portugal on loan are Benfica pair Nélson Oliveira (Nottingham Forest) and Ola John (Reading), while Sporting sold strikers Wilson Eduardo to Braga and Diego Rubio to Real Valladolid.
by Tom Kundert
