León stadium drama tops Liga MX headlines

Guadalajara preparing for another roster shuffle

It’s only the middle of October, but the December transfer window is already attracting plenty of speculation.

This past week, the hottest rumor had Chivas general manager Ricardo Peláez back in for Víctor Guzmán.

Peláez took over the Guadalajara front office in December 2019 and made an immediate splash, slinging cash around to acquire nine players, including five potential El Tri regulars. The biggest name of the bunch was Guzmán.

The Chivas purchased “El Pocho” from Pachuca, hoping he’d star for a season or two before making the leap to Europe. Instead the deal collapsed over a failed drug test and the midfielder was banished from the pitch for nine months and his contract was sent back to the Tuzos.

Guzmán finally returned to action this season, earning his first two starts in late September. The playmaking midfielder has shown flashes of his previous form, but still has a ways to go. And it seems Peláez would like to see him rediscover that “El Tri” form as a member of “El Rebaño Sagrado.”

We shall see.

With the “El Pocho” whispers increasing, it’s no surprise that there are hints that the enigmatic “Chofis” is on his way out the back door. That will be a tough one for Chivas fans as Eduardo López is a real favorite.

López burst onto the scene in March 2016 as a baby-faced 21-year-old, scoring a brace against Monterrey. A few weeks later, he scored a goal against UNAM after a brilliant move that completely froze defender Darío Verón, one of the best in Liga MX at the time.

“El Rebaño Sagrado” embraced him immediately, demanding he be inserted into the line-up. Coach Matías Almeyda was not moved, however, though he worked diligently with “Chofis,” trying to turn him into a 90-minute man. Instead, the notoriety seemed to go to his head.

Nearly five years since his splashy introduction, “Chofis” has but 10 career goals to his name and continues to struggle with fitness issues. His inability to shed weight and his laissez-faire attitude toward training has frustrated coaches and management, though he still remains a fan favorite. Nevertheless, it appears that his days as a Chiva are numbered.