‘Summer’ Hot Stove chatter: América and Cruz Azul

We wrote about the Chivas in our previous look-ahead to the Apertura 2022 and “El Rebaño Sagrado” is now at a Nayarit beach resort training for the upcoming season.

Newly acquired Alan Mozo and Fernando González did not make the trip but a lot of youngsters are in attendance as are a number of players from Guadalajara’s farm team, Tapatío.

No doubt, Ricardo Peláez is not finished wheeling-and-dealing (he appears interested in acquiring Pachuca midfielder Víctor “El Pocho” Guzmán, but if Monterrey starts a bidding war the Rayados would have the inside track).

Meanwhile, two Mexico City giants continue to feed the rumor mill as Liga MX is less than four weeks away from Opening Day. They’ll be the focus of this essay.

A quick look at two members of Liga MX ‘Big Four’

América continues to stir the pot as it searches for an answer to its front-line scoring woes, while Cruz Azul management is trying to fulfill the wishes of new coach Diego Aguirre.

The Aguilas always boast one of the biggest payrolls in Liga MX so lack of offensive productivity is never tolerated. That means forwards Henry Martín (3 goals) and Federico Viñas (1 goal) will likely be moving on.

América’s newly reorganized front office (Héctor González Iñárritu was named team president and will work with embattled GM Santiago Baños) is looking outside Liga MX as well as within the league for new strikers.

Heading into the weekend, the Aguilas had approached Atlético de San Luis about winger Germán Berterame (Liga MX Golden Boot winner two seasons ago) and Jhon Murillo, a skilled and speedy young forward.

In addition, sports daily Record reported that Pablo Solari, a 21-year-old Argentine striker/winger currently playing for Chile’s Colo Colo is on the club’s radar.

Cementeros preparing to shuffle roster too

Big changes are expected at Cruz Azul as well since management forced out coach Juan Reynoso only one year after the former Cementeros player guided “La Máquina” to a Liga MX championship, ending the franchise’s nearly 24-year title drought.

New manager Diego Aguirre has already made adjustments to the roster and more will be coming.

Veteran defender Pablo Aguilar has been told he does not figure into the club’s plans and the 35-year-old hardman is likely to return to his native Paraguay to close out his illustrious career (he won Liga MX trophies with Tijuana, América and Cruz Azul).

Midfield icon Rafa Baca appears close to signing an extension, but, at 32, he still might be viewed as expendable by Aguirre. He has been a fixture in the Cementeros midfield since 2014, but if he is released there are two Liga MX squads (Necaxa and Mazatlán FC) that could race to sign him.

Left back Adrián Aldrete, 33, is out of contract and is mulling an offer from Cruz Azul, but UNAM – another member of the Liga MX big Four – is eager to acquire the veteran. It remains to be seen if Aguirre will press to emphasize youth in his line-up though the short window between seasons might prevent that.

Cruz Azul is also looking to shore up its attack and former Pumas striker Carlos González – now with the Tigres – is a target.

In the meantime, the Cementeros have also been linked to a move for Uruguayan Nahitan Nández. Coach Aguirre is familiar with the 26-year-old midfielder who plays for Cagliari but Nández is not eager to play in Serie B after the Italian club suffered relegation this past season.