Western Sydney Wanderers facing raids for their three Spanish stars

THE Wanderers face some difficult choices over the make-up of their squad next season, with their trio of Spanish imports coveted by other clubs in the A-League.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 16: Andreu of the Wanderers runs with ball during the round 15 A-League match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney United at Pirtek Stadium on January 16, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

THE Wanderers face some difficult choices over the make-up of their squad next season, with their trio of Spanish imports coveted by other clubs in the A-League.

Western Sydney have opened talks with all three of Andreu, Dimas and Alberto about re-signing them for next season, but other clubs including the Mariners and Perth have made clear their intention to offer significant pay increases.

Andreu is understood to be the highest-paid of the three, at just over $200,000, but all have been integral to the overhaul of style at Western Sydney that has seen them climb to the top of the A-League.

Now Western Sydney must decide whether to offer improved deals to the trio or risk them being snapped up elsewhere.

All three have told teammates they would prefer to stay at the Wanderers, having settled quickly at the club, but are also aware of their role in the club’s remarkable rise from the near-bottom of the league to the top.

The situation is complicated by the salary cap, with Western Sydney — like all A-League clubs — facing a balancing act to keep their squad together within its restrictions.

It’s likely that offers will be made to other key members of the club’s resurgence, with Mitch Nichols having already been blocked from taking up a lucrative deal in China.

The Wanderers’ Spanish stars (l-r) Alberto Aguilar, Andreu and Dimas Delgado.

The Wanderers have made two acquisitions within the transfer window, signing left-sided utility Matt Sim just days after he was released by the Mariners, and Australian U17 international Jackson Bandiera.

Sim has remarkably traded the leagues bottom club for the one at the top, with a deal through to the end of the season, while Bandiera played every minute at the U17 World Cup last year when the Joeys made the Round of 16.

Meanwhile David Carney’s long-mooted move from Newcastle to Sydney FC is almost certain to be ratified today, just hours before the A-League transfer window closes at midnight tonight.

It’s believed his release has been sanctioned by Football Federation Australia, as owners of the club, though Jets coach Scott Miller has not given up hope of getting a player in exchange from the Sky Blues.

Andrew Hoole and Chris Naumoff have declined to consider a move to the Jets, and the most likely outcome is Carney simply getting released from his contract.

Ironically Hoole is the player most likely to be replaced in Sydney’s starting XI by Carney, after a below-par performance against Brisbane on Saturday night. Sydney are not thought to be planning any further player movements, having sold Alex Gersbach to Norwegian club Rosenborg on Sunday.

Wellington have moved quickly to replace departed Dutch strike Jeffrey Sarpong, signing young English forward Alex Jones on loan from Championship side Birmingham City.

Originally published as Western Sydney Wanderers facing raids for their three Spanish stars