Espanyol still looking for two or three signings

Naldo has arrived but Espanyol are still looking to add to their squad. One week ahead of the start of the new league season, Quique Sánchez is still missing two or three players in order to have the balanced squad he wants. Four if Álvaro Vázquez or Hernán Pérez do end up leaving.

The manager is still hoping that the club will complete the deals it is working on and that the necessary reinforcements will start arriving in the next few days. Quique wants another central defender, an organising midfielder and a full back, which will be Dídac Vilà unless events take an unexpected turn. Espanyol have been negotiating the player's return for weeks with AEK Athens and there should be a breakthrough next week. The Greek club is expected to give the transfer the green light.

If Álvaro or Hernán do leave, another forward will be needed to complete the squad. But the club's priority at this time is to keep Gerard Moreno. The club did not expect this problem but Villarreal are now looking to replace Roberto Soldado and so the club wants to extend Moreno's contract.

The latest player linked with Espanyol is Sergi Darder who is a product of the club's youth system. The midfielder, who now plays for Lyon, is exactly the type of player Quique is looking for. He wants a player who is dynamic but can also help move the ball out from the back and Darder fits the bill. The player has started Lyon's first two league games but Lyon want to strengthen in this area. However, the transfer would be complicated from a financial point of view.