With the 2018-19 La Liga season over, sides are already putting in place transfer plans and looking to tie up contracts for important figures.
The key in these situations is often getting your business done early to avoid last minute panic buys and upsetting the balance of your squad before the season kick off.
Eibar secured their top flight status will weeks to spare in 2018-19, extending their La Liga stay into a sixth consecutive season – a feat that would have seemed almost impossible following their first ever campaign back in 2014-15.
Traditionally, Eibar have followed the path of other La Liga sides with a humble financial structure which has involved selling their best players at the end of the season, to finance the following 12 months.
Florian Lejeune’s move to Premier League side Newcastle, in 2017, triggered an exodus from the Basque club, with Takashi Inui, Bebe and Ivi, all moving on in the following months.
Manager Jose Luis Mendilibar reacted with a consistently shrewd transfer policy, bringing in Marko Dmitrovic and Pablo De Blasis to keep the Eibar machine running.
This season looks to be the first time where incomings will outweigh departures, as Eibar look to have a settled squad with the money to fend off bids.
Mendilibar has signed a new deal to stay at the Iprura for another season, with the board keen to not let his expiring deal lead to interest from rivals currently on the look out for a new boss.
They have also taken up the purchase option on Marc Cucurella, on loan from FC Barcelona in 2018-19, after he played a key role in their mid table finish.
However they are expected to look again at producing a bargain signing, as despite scoring 17 league goals last season, 35-year old Olivieira needs support as their main goal scoring threat.
Mendilibar is widely tipped to be considering bringing Japanese international Inui back to the club, after his move to Real Betis failed to live up to expectations, and he ended 2018-19 on loan at Alaves.
The former Osasuna boss has prided himself on turning free transfers and cheap signings into consistent performers, and they have already been linked with San Lonrenzo’s Esequiel Avila, after he netted 10 goals at relegated Huesca last season.
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