Arrivals and Departures: Luis Chávez leaving Pachuca for Moscow

Pachuca midfielder Luis Chávez has agreed terms of a four-year deal to join Dynamo Moscow and will be leaving Liga MX to fulfill his European dreams.

However, some question whether playing Russia is really the best choice, especially since Russian clubs are banned from playing in UEFA competitions.

The move is still not finalized – Liga MX rivals Monterrey submitted a significant offer in a last-ditch effort to acquire Chávez’s services – but it could be completed before the weekend.

Chávez, 27, helped lead the Tuzos to two consecutive Liga MX finals, hoisting the Liga MX trophy as Pachuca triumphed in the Apertura 2022 playoffs. After the Jalisco native starred for Mexico at the 2022 World Cup, he’d hoped that European clubs would come calling but no offer appealed sufficiently to entice club or player.

From LaLiga to Liga MX

Spaniard Sergio Canales is on the verge of joining Liga MX giants Monterrey as the Real Betis man is preparing to put his signature on a three-year contract.

The Rayados have been looking to beef up their midfield (thus their attempt to sign Chávez) and had been wooing Canales for a few months. The deep-pocketed Monterrey ownership group finally put together the right package to entice Betis to allow Canales, 32, to depart for Liga MX.

In fact, the transaction is the most expensive in Liga MX history – 5 million euros per season for the midfielder and a 15 million-euro acquisition fee for Betis.

Canales, a teammate of long-time Mexico captain Andrés Guardado with Los Verdiblancos since 2018, was a member of the Spain team that won the UEFA Nations League just last month.

What might have been … or could it be?

This past week there were reports that AEK Athens had made a pitch to acquire Club América defender Néstor Araujo. If the 31-year-old Guadalajara native were to move to the Greek club, he would join Orbelín Pineda and Rodolfo Pizarro in Athens.

Perhaps as a result of this potential move, the Aguilas were said to be making a pitch for Team Mexico central defender César Montes, currently with Spain’s Espanyol.

Espanyol was relegated at the end of the 2022-23 La Liga season so the Catalan club is trying to sell off some of the more expensive assets. However, there are reports that Espanyol’s asking price is too high and Montes, 26, is determined to stay in Europe where he only has one season under his belt.

After Monterrey’s big splash with Canales, one wonders whether or not the Aguilas’ ownership group is willing to reach deep into its wallet to bolster its title aspirations.