ÓSCAR ARIAS: "YESTERDAY WE MADE AN OFFER TO NAVAS' AGENT AND WE EXPECT A RESPONSE SOON"

Óscar Arias gave the latest news on the transfer market during Corchia's presentation. Naturally, the sporting director was asked about Jesús Navas: "Yesterday we made an offer to his agent that they are assessing and we expect to have the response soon. What all parties want is to come to an agreement, which isn't easy but we hope that in the next few days we will have an answer. There is no need for a deadline because everyone is conscious that we have to get things sorted as soon as possible, whether or not we come to an agreement, so that, if necessary, we can work things out. There's no ultimatum, just an offer that will be responded to in the coming days, that is certain".

He didn't want to talk about the specific players linked with joining the defence, but he made it clear that the club would insist on its first choices: "Although it sounds like a cliché, it's the truth. We are working on the getting the options we want. Until now we've been fortunate and almost every signing has been our first choice, as well as those we are working on. It's true that we have the Champions League tie just around the corner but after so much time spent on negotiating, its not worth forcing situations that could lead to destabilising and then completely ruining the deals we want done".

In addition, he did not rule out a possible move for Jovetic: "It has never been easy for different reasons, but it's a possibility which remains open even though it's a complicated one". To conclude, he acknowledged that Berizzo is still analysing the situation of certain youngsters: "It's early days, we've only just come back from Japan and the coach is still getting to know them. Beyond the reports that we have, he wants to form his own opinion. There are things that are very clear, but now's not the time to be making decisions".