Roster shuffling continues as transfer deadline nears

Though Mexican soccer fans have turned their attention to Thursday’s El Tri vs Jamaica match, Liga MX clubs continue to finalize their rosters. And not without some off-field controversy!

The winter transfer window snaps shut on Feb. 1 so front offices are busy across Mexico.

Cruz Azul continued to overhaul its locker room only eight months removed from winning the Liga MX title, while Tijuana and FC Juárez made late bids to boost their line-ups and escape the “Relegation Zone.”

But the big story is América finally filling coach Santiago Solari’s wish list and signing a winger, although the Mexico City giants might not be finished just yet.

Liga MX executives keeping busy during FIFA break

América general manager Santiago Baños has been facing plenty of criticism for his failure to make good on his promise to complete the Aguilas’ makeover before the season started.

Coach Solari had asked for a pair of wingers, a playmaker and a defender yet by early January only one item had been checked off Banos’ to-do list – that was the acquisition of midfielder Diego Valdés, Santos Laguna’s top playmaker.

Veteran midfielder Jona dos Santos was also added, but he was surplus. Then Necaxa midfielder Alejandro Zendejas and young Spanish defender Jorge Mere came aboard.

But talks with three different wing prospects fell apart and the finger-pointing began. América supporters jeered Baños during last Saturday’s home loss to Atlas and TV talking heads slammed the beleaguered GM.

For two Televisa commentators, their denunciations proved costly. Legendary broadcaster Enrique “El Perro” Bermúdez and “Paco” Villa apologized publicly for casting aspersions on Baños. These mea culpas might have raised an eyebrow except for the fact that the analysts work for Televisa, the same company that owns América. The situation took an even darker turn on Wednesday when Villa abruptly resigned.

This week, Baños finally came through with a winger – Santos Laguna’s Juan Otero (thanks to some lobbying from Diego Valdés, it seems). And the Aguilas are reportedly close to inking Spaniard Álvaro Jiménez, a Real Madrid academy product (remember, coach Solari coached at Real Madrid before moving to Mexico).

Baños talked to reporters Wednesday and basically admitted that he deserved some blame, saying “we were late in signing reinforcements, coming up short in our commitment to have our roster established before Week 1.”

Cementeros not done wheeling and dealing

América’s crosstown rivals Cruz Azul will introduce two new faces to Liga MX fans after the FIFA break. That might be bad news for the rest of Liga MX as the Cementeros are in first place at the moment.

Peru international Luis Abram is coming in to shore up the defense, while forward Iván Morales will travel to Mexico City after Chile completes its upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Abram, 25, will be on loan to “La Máquina” (from La Liga’s Granada) where he will provide some youth to the Cementeros back line. Current starters Pablo Aguilar and Julio César Domínguez are both 34 years old.

Morales, 22, arrives from Colo Colo and will compete with Bryan Angulo and Santi Giménez to lead the Cruz Azul attack.

At the same time, it appears that Guillermo “Pol” Fernández is on his way out the door. The Argentine midfielder has been trying to force his way out of the club, requesting a leave of absence to deal with a family matter back home only to plead with Boca Juniors to help him leave Liga MX. The Cementeros front office is not amused, and they may drive a hard bargain to rid themselves of a potential malcontent.

Liga MX also-rans making moves

Two relegation-threatened teams shored up their rosters in the past several days. Tijuana signed former Boca Juniors defender Lisandro López and Chile international Joaquín Montecinos.

López, 32, brings valuable experience to the Xolos as he boasts stints with Benfica and Inter Milan. The deal for Montecinos, 26, has not yet been finalized, but if the speedy winger joins the club he should add instant offense to a club that finished last in Liga MX a season ago.

Further east along Mexico’s northern border, FC Juárez announced it is repatriating Carlos Fierro.

The 27-year-old native of Sinaloa is a Chivas product with four Liga MX clubs on his résumé (Chivas, Querétaro, Morelia and Cruz Azul). Fierro was a star of Mexico’s Under-17 World Cup champions back in 2011 and he returns to Liga MX from MLS where he was playing for the San Jose Earthquakes.

In late-breaking news, Atlético de San Luis announced that it has fired coach Marcelo Méndez. The Tuneros are in last place and in danger of paying a hefty fine for finishing within the three-team Liga MX “Relegation Zone.”