Sevilla manager plots unprecedented summer overhaul

Sevilla head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has urged his superiors to dismiss ‘at least ten’ redundant players in the coming weeks in what promises to be a staggering squad clearout.

The 62-year-old, who took charge of Los Rojiblancos in April amid the club’s tremendous struggle in La Liga, quickly steadied the ship and helped them lift a record-extending seventh Europa League title.

Despite being appointed as a short-term solution after the club sacked underperforming boss Jorge Sampaoli, Mendilibar has earned the right to oversee summer dealings for his stellar work down the final stretch of last season.

He isn’t complaining about the quality of the squad at his disposal, but the quantity makes him worried as he went public to invite the board to address this issue.

“I still think it’s a great squad -but also that you have to fix the number of players,” Mendilibar told AS.

“We are training with 29 guys and eight are still missing who are still dancing around.

“At least ten have to leave, even more, if we want to bring signings. But I am happy with the quality we have.”

Sevilla have kept a low profile in the early summer days, announcing the signings of Adria Pedrosa and Federico Gattoni from Espanyol and San Lorenzo, respectively.

Apart from spending €12 million to turn Loic Balde’s loan move from Rennes permanent, the Spaniards have yet to make any major acquisitions as Mendilibar hopes to dispose of the fringe players first.

Although Los Rojiblancos have been relatively quiet on the incoming front, they have welcomed as many as ten players back from loan stints, with only three leaving the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Some of the unwanted players to have returned to Andalusia this summer are former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj and ex-Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney.

However, Sevilla will have to try to drum up interest in their outcasts before they can move on to reinforce Mendilibar’s options.

While giving up first-team stars is probably not what Mendilibar had in mind, first-choice goalkeeper Bono could spearhead summer departures as he’s reportedly open to exiting Andalusia.

The Moroccan’s sale would go a long way in helping Sevilla deal with financial turmoil that threatens to plague their effort to strengthen their squad this summer.