Sporting target Casas to unlock strikeforce moves

Sporting Gijón are pushing to complete their final major signing of the window: a striker to replace the 16 league goals left by Dubasin. According to Sport, the club have set their sights on Antonio Casas, a Spanish forward at Venezia in Serie A who is seeking an exit after failing to feature regularly since arriving last summer.

The player and his representatives have spent weeks negotiating with the Italian club to find a way out. Sporting are exploring two options: a loan in Italy or a contract termination. With the transfer window closing rapidly, the need is pressing.

The right fit

Casas ticks all the boxes for the profile Nicolás Larcamón is publicly demanding: a classic number 9, clinical in the box, requiring no adaptation period to the division, and capable of competing with Otero, Ferrari and recently departed Dubasin. The player commands a substantial wage at Venezia (over €1m annually), which has generated interest from other Spanish clubs also monitoring his situation.

Open race

Sporting are well-placed in the hunt and Casas favours the Asturian option. However, they face competition from rival Spanish sides also enquiring about his availability. Everything hinges on Venezia's final decision and whether Casas can agree terms with the club. In the closing weeks of the market, this move could prove key to completing a squad that has improved overall but still needs that extra dimension in attack that Larcamón demands.