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Erik Lira could still have a chance to play in Europe. After his signing with AS Monaco fell through at the last minute, a Premier League club has reportedly shown interest in the Mexican midfielder. Who is it? We'll tell you.
The possibility arose during the final hours of the summer transfer market. According to information shared on social media and picked up by sports outlets, the English team had reportedly held conversations regarding the Cruz Azul player, although the negotiation faces a major hurdle: England's transfer market closes this September 1, 2026.
Which Premier League team wants to sign Erik Lira?
The team mentioned is Sunderland AFC, a club that returned to the Premier League and reportedly inquired about the status of the Mexican midfielder.
The information published this September 1 places Sunderland among the options that could still allow Lira to achieve his goal of playing in Europe this year. However, the alleged approach does not mean there is a definitive agreement between the footballer, Cruz Azul, and the English club.
Why did Erik Lira's signing with Monaco fall through?
The transfer of Erik Lira to AS Monaco was thwarted due to an administrative problem related to the quota for non-EU players.
Cruz Azul and Monaco had progressed to the point of reaching an agreement for the midfielder. Reports even indicated that Lira had undergone medical exams as part of the process to finalize his arrival.
The problem was that Monaco needed to free up a spot to register the Mexican. The departure of Folarin Balogun to Everton appeared to be one of the pieces that could unlock the operation, but the move did not end up being finalized in time.
How much was Monaco going to pay for Erik Lira?
According to information from national media, the final agreement contemplated around 8 million euros for the Mexican midfielder.
What other options does Erik Lira have to play in Europe?
Sunderland would not be the only possibility mentioned for the Cruz Azul midfielder. Among the reported alternatives are clubs from Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other European markets.
Zenit in Russia is another option mentioned, while Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates had also previously shown interest. In the case of Russia, the market remains open until September 11, so there is more room to negotiate.
There are also European markets that remain open after the Premier League deadline, including Portugal and Greece.
Is Erik Lira staying at Cruz Azul?
If he fails to finalize any of the available options before the respective market deadlines, Erik Lira would have to continue with Cruz Azul.
[Publicidad]