Real Sociedad cautiously explores three defensive options

Real Sociedad continues searching for a centre-back for the upcoming season, though it does so unhurriedly. According to Mundo Deportivo, the txuri urdin club maintains three different avenues with distinct situations and costs: Nayef Aguerd, Ladislav Krejci and Nathan Zézé.

The most high-profile case is Aguerd, former Sociedad player now at Marseille. FootMercato reported that an offer already exists for a loan of €2.5 million with a €10 million option to buy, a five-year contract, and the player's approval. The 30-year-old Moroccan defender has been sidelined since March following a pubic operation and has yet to return to training. His injury history, astronomical wages, and doubts over his return to competitive fitness mean Real Sociedad only sees a loan as viable, as MD reveals. Marseille, in economic trouble, must sell, but it is Aguerd's entourage who offered him. Napoli also follows him.

Krejci (Wolverhampton, 27) is another target, but the operation has cooled after the rejected offer reported by Fabrizio Romano. Wolves, having sold Guedes cheaply, don't want to repeat the mistake, and English figures complicate everything.

Zézé, 21 and a French U-21 international from Saudi side Neom, is very much to Real's liking for his quality and youth, though there is still no firm offer on the table.