River accelerates in the market: Gallardo is putting on the pressure, the board is negotiating, and there are already seven names on the list

With an eye on 2026, River is already navigating an intense transfer market, marked by the urgency to strengthen key positions and by direct requests from Marcelo Gallardo. The coach has submitted a list with clearly defined priorities, and the management, led by Stefano Di Carlo, has begun to move forward under a clear strategy: start each negotiation with a loan with an option or obligation to buy and avoid excessive spending. With several departures confirmed after the end-of-year clear-out, the challenge is to rebuild a competitive squad without losing financial balance.

The most sensitive case is, perhaps, Santiago Ascacíbar's. Mariano Barnao, a trusted man of Muñeco, has already contacted the captain's camp of Estudiantes de La Plata and opened a door that the player himself asked to keep ajar. With his mind set on the Clausura semifinal clásico against Gimnasia, Ascacíbar preferred to buy time before responding, while he is also considering a firm offer from Brazilian football.

Meanwhile, the Millonario has made progress on several names from abroad. The club is optimistic about the possibility of signing Kevin Amaro, right back from Liverpool de Uruguay, with a meeting scheduled in the coming hours that could set the deal on track. This is the most advanced negotiation so far, and in Núñez, they are confident of a positive outcome.

For the center back position, Gallardo has set his sights on Julián Millán, a Colombian from Nacional de Montevideo. Despite the left-footed defender's good year and Bolso's intention to keep him, even by buying the 50% owned by Independiente Santa Fe, the club from Núñez considers him an ideal piece in case of potential moves in defense. His height, consistency, and solid first year in Uruguay position him as one of the strongest alternatives.

On the flanks, the coach's target is once again Román Vega. The former Argentinos was on the verge of joining in mid-year, but Zenit made a higher offer and signed him for nine million dollars. Today, with little playing time in Russia, his name reappears in Gallardo's plans, although once again with the challenge of negotiating with a club that has just made a significant investment in him.

The midfield is also an area of search. Fausto Vera, who also has a past with Bicho de La Paternal and currently has an irregular spell at Atlético Mineiro, appears once again on Muñeco's radar. At 25 years old, the midfielder is considering a return to the country, and River has already started talks to explore a loan. The amount Galo paid just a year and a half ago remains an obstacle, but it doesn't block the interest.

In the attacking sector, the most appealing name is Gianluca Prestianni's. The young player who emerged from Vélez has not managed to establish himself at Benfica, and although he has offers in Europe, River has an advantage, since the player is very open to the possibility of joining the club. The player's enthusiasm excites the Millonario, even knowing that the negotiation will not be easy.

The other target in the attack is Luciano Gondou. Gallardo wants him as his number 9, and River has already explored the possibility of bringing him from Zenit on a loan with a purchase commitment. His case is similar to Vega's, since he recently arrived in Russia for a significant sum, but his desire to return to the country, and to a club where he spent his youth, fuels the hope that the Millonario can make progress.

With Gallardo setting the course and the management activating contacts on different fronts, River's transfer market promises to be long and full of complex negotiations. The objective is clear: rebuild the squad to the coach's specifications without compromising the club's economic future. Negotiations are already underway; now, the club is waiting for signs that will begin to shape the team for the upcoming season.