ISL 2017/18: Avram Grant looking for European replacement for Luis Alfonso Paez?
There seems to be a revolution brewing in the NorthEast, and it's coming from a man that almost won club football’s most coveted trophy.
Newly-appointed NorthEast United FC boss Avram Grant, who had led Premier League giants Chelsea to the UEFA Champions League final, is said to be eyeing multiple signings in a bid to improve the strength of his squad.
The Highlanders have been on poor form so far this season, having won just two of their nine matches in the league so far. What has been an even greater concern for them is that they have scored the least number of goals in the league – four.
With their attack misfiring, Grant is said to be in the market, looking for a striker from Europe, someone who could replace Colombian forward Luis Alfonso Paez, according to sources close to the club.
However, NEUFC unlike some of the other clubs in the league, NEUFC have kept an eye on the monetary side of things. They are still following former head coach Joao De Deus’ philosophy of not signing marquee players, who would cost a lot of money.
“It is an open fact that all the ISL teams are under losses. Even we are one of them. This year, we are one of the least spenders,” a NorthEast official said to Sportskeeda. “Delhi and we have spent around Rs 9 crores on players and coach’s salaries. If you compare that, ATK have spent Rs 21 crore and Kerala Blasters have spent Rs 17 crore.
“We are now looking for certain kind of players which the coaching units have decided on. Not just strikers, but we’re also looking to strengthen some of the other positions on the pitch. After coaching the side for two matches, he (Avram Grant) says that we need a few reinforcements,” said the NEUFC official.
With the ISL Winter transfer window being thrown open on January 15, it would be interesting to see which clubs go for new signings, as we enter the mid-season phase. The struggling clubs like NEUFC, Delhi Dynamos and ATK have had some unsatisfactory performances from their foreign signings, and I would be interesting to see who they bring in, to improve their squad.