Málaga will wait until January to replace Lobete

Málaga have decided to wait until January to find a replacement for Julen Lobete following his injury/absence, after assessing offers received since the summer transfer window closed, as reported by Radio MARCA Málaga.

Unless there is a last-minute shift, the club does not plan to move for free agents in the coming days. The sporting department and coaching staff have reviewed several options and concluded that the current free-agent market does not offer enough certainty: some players could arrive without competitive minutes, while others have wage demands that fall outside the club’s limits.

Doubts over free agents

Among the names discussed were Zaha and Martial, but none convinced Málaga enough to make an immediate move. In Martial’s case specifically, the club believes his salary expectations—according to Radio MARCA Málaga—were double the wages of the highest-paid player in the squad.

No rush, focus on impact

Funes’ stance has also been consistent. He said recently that “making rushed decisions can lead to mistakes,” and that what matters is that whoever comes in can deliver immediate performance.

There is also a procedural window: Málaga have 20 days from Lobete’s operation to request a squad-registration replacement with LaLiga. The club will use that timeframe to keep evaluating the market, but the plan outlined by the outlet is to recover their injured players first and then act in January.