From the ship Jubal: the star Brazilian came to Krasnodar

There are less than 10 days left before the start of the new season in the Russian Premier League. Already on July 18, the championship will open with a duel between Dynamo Moscow and the newcomer of the RPL, Kaliningrad Baltika. In the meantime, all 16 clubs have time to make the necessary deals to acquire new players and part with those who are not included in the squad. Read more about the latest key transfers and rumors about upcoming changes in the elite of Russian football in the Izvestia article.

Krasnodar

The Russian champion has already signed four newcomers. So far, the most high—profile of them is the 31-year-old central defender from Brazil— Jubal. Krasnodar got him for free, as the player became a free agent after leaving the French Auxerre. Positionally, Jubal replaced his compatriot, 29-year-old Cayo, in Krasnodar, who was sold to his homeland, Botafogo, for €2 million. Alexander Ektov, a 29-year-old right-back, also left the team for 400,000 euros, who joined Paris NN, which miraculously survived in the RPL.

Among Krasnodar's other acquisitions, it is important to mention 24-year—old Brazilian left winger Gustavo Furtado, who was bought from Greek Lamia for 450,000 euros, as well as two Russians, 23-year-old former Rodina goalkeeper Alexander Koryakin, who will be the first option to rotate with Stanislav Agkatsev (due to the end of the contract for 37-year-old Yuri Dupin), and 28-year-old central defender from Chernomorets Vitaly Stezhko.

Perhaps the main transfer rumor related to Krasnodar is the possible signing of Auxerre's 29—year-old right winger, Frenchman Gaetan Perrin. Even the world transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has already announced this deal. According to him, the issue price is €4.5 million. Which is quite advantageous, considering not only the Ligue 1 and the French citizenship of the player, but also his statistics last season. 10+11 goals+passes in 34 matches is very solid. According to this indicator, Perrin beat, for example, Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette (15+2) and PSG forward Gonzalo Ramos (10+3). Separately, Perrin became the best in the league in terms of assists, along with Ryan Sherki from Lyon. So by the standards of the RPL, this will be a top acquisition that can help Krasnodar defend the championship title.

Zenit

After missing out on the championship for the first time since 2018, Zenit operates on the "rare but accurate" principle in the transfer market. At least so far.

To date, two transfers have been reported. The first one has already been officially announced: for €7.7 million, Luciano's former Zenit striker teammate, 21-year-old defender Roman Vega, arrived from Argentinos Juniors, who even managed to make his debut for his new club in a friendly match against Baltika Kaliningrad.

Brazilian midfielder Gerson became the second newcomer to Zenit this summer. The reputable football portal Transfermarkt has already recorded the transfer of the 28-year-old former Flamengo captain to Zenit for € 25 million in compensation stipulated in his previous contract with the Brazilian team. On July 3, the chairman of the Board of the blue-white-blues, Alexander Medvedev, in a comment to Sport-Express, announced the presentation of the newcomer on July 9 before the match with Swiss Sion at Gazprom Arena.

Potentially, Gerson is a replacement for his compatriot Wendell, who has been experiencing serious discipline problems within the team lately. It is, of course, connected with his desire to return to his homeland. But so far, Zenit has not been able to profitably attach the scandalous Brazilian. Options are also being considered in Saudi Arabia, which will be able to pay a decent amount.

With whom Zenit has already parted, it is with three Russians who have not found a place at the base. Defender Dmitry Chistyakov, as well as midfielders Alexey Sutormin and Zelimkhan Bakaev left Zenit due to the end of their contract. Two of them have already found a new club: Rostov signed Chistyakov, and Lokomotiv signed Bakayeva. And Sutormin, apparently, came to court at Krylia Sovetov — the contract has not yet been signed, but Alexey is already training with the team.

Perhaps the loudest rumor related to Zenit's entry transfer is the possible return of Russian Brazilian Malcom. According to SE, the 28-year-old Al-Hilal winger may move to Zenit during the summer transfer window. Brazil is also showing interest in him, but Malcom's priority is to move to a top-5 European league club. In this case, he is even willing to concede in salary.

CSKA

So far, the army team has been joined only by a new head coach, 49—year-old Swiss Fabio Celestini, who won the Swiss championship and cup with Basel last season.

The first newcomer among the players is expected to be 20-year-old attacking midfielder Mateus Alves very soon. Earlier it became known that the Army would buy the young Brazilian from Sao Paulo for € 6 million, while the Brazilian club would receive 25% of the transfer amount in case of resale. On the night of July 8, Lecca De Camargo's agent, representing the interests of Alves, informed SE about the completed medical examination before joining CSKA. The results will be announced on July 9th.

And if CSKA doesn't have many "entry" deals yet, then there are plenty of "exit" deals. The Army team has already parted ways with three midfielders who have become free agents. We are talking about 27-year-old Croat Kristian Bistrovic, 28-year-old Rifat Zhemaletdinov and 35-year-old Bosnian Miralem Pjanic.

In addition, there are rumors of interest from Turkey in 21-year-old Abbosbek Fayzullayev (Istanbul) and 19-year-old Matvey Kislyak (Fenerbahce). But there is a high probability that both players will stay for the upcoming season.

But 26-year-old Argentine striker Adolfo Gaich is likely to travel around the world again, despite the contract valid until the summer of 2026. According to Bobsoccer, CSKA is currently looking for a new club for Gaic.

23-year-old midfielder Maxim Mukhin is also preparing for a loan. The player's agent, Vladimir Kuzmichev, told Sport-Express that he was waiting for CSKA's decision regarding a possible lease to Rostov, which "has been showing interest for a long time."

"Spartak"

At the moment, the Red and white have made one incoming transfer: as a free agent, the club has signed 34-year-old former CSKA, Zenit and Khimki striker Anton Zabolotny. Thus, Spartak solved the problem of the absence of a big striker with a Russian passport in the team after Alexander Sobolev left for Zenit.

According to the information of the "Championship", the red-whites can replenish the squad with Ilya Samoshnikov, a 27-year-old defender of Lokomotiv. Moreover, this will be an exchange for midfielder Danil Prutsev, who, according to rumors, was even wooed to Zenit.

The 27-year-old Kazakhstani Bakhtiyor Zainutdinov, who is already well acquainted with the RPL from his performances for Rostov and CSKA, can restore the quantitative balance in the middle of the field, and will not be considered a legionnaire under the current limit. According to Fotomaç, the red and white made Besiktas an offer of €3 million, but they are asking for 5 million.

Spartak may also sign 24-year-old Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez. According to Metaratings, the Moscow club may fork out €15-17 million for him.

In Spartak, Lopez can become a replacement for another striker, Manfred Ugalda. The 23-year-old Costa Rican, who scored 17 goals in the RPL last season, is interested in Dutch Feyenoord.

Among those who have already left Spartak are 30-year-old central defender Mienti Abena (who joined Gazisehir in Turkey for free), 25-year-olds Mikhail Ignatov and Pavel Maslov, as well as 29-year-old winger Anton Zinkovsky, who went on loan to Sochi.

Dynamo Moscow

Before the start of the season, the blue and white had already made three high-quality deals with a Russian accent. Dynamo was led by the current coach of the Russian national team, Valery Karpin, who was joined by 31-year-old defender Maxim Osipenko (for €2.9 million from Rostov) and 30-year-old striker Ivan Sergeev (for €3.8 million from Krylia Sovetov). Moreover, Dynamo actively fought hard against Spartak for Sergeyev, and in the end it emerged victorious.

The story of the "great migration of the people" from Rostov-on-Don to Moscow may not be limited to Osipenko alone. According to rumors, three Rostov players may join the team so far: defender Ilya Vakhania, as well as midfielders Kirill Shchetinin and Ivan Komarov.

Two veteran defenders have already left the club: 33-year-old Paraguayan Fabian Balbuena and 32-year-old Israeli Eli Dasa have become free agents.

One of the main Dynamo intrigues this summer is whether attacking midfielder Jorge Carrascal will leave the team. Earlier, journalist Vené Casagrande said that the Moscow club and Flamengo had agreed on Carrascal's transfer for €12 million, but later Dynamo CEO Pavel Pivovarov denied this information, as the Brazilian offer did not suit the Moscow club, and said that Dynamo was counting on Carrascal in the upcoming season.

"Locomotive"

By the new season, the Railwaymen have already been reinforced by three experienced players with a Russian passport. For €1.5 million, 30-year—old striker Nikolay Komlichenko was discharged from Rostov, 29-year—old winger Zelimkhan Bakayev was discharged from Zenit, and 26-year-old extreme striker Alexander Rudenko was discharged from the disbanded Khimki (the latter two joined Lokomotiv as a free agent).

Among the potential deals, the previously mentioned exchange of Samoshnikov to Spartak for Prutsev stands out, as well as former Krylia Sovetov defender Glenn Bale, who became a free agent.

The main character of the column "they could have come, but they didn't come" was 28-year-old Argentine midfielder Lucas Vera, who scored seven goals and provided four assists in 30 matches last season. Vera was close to joining Loko until a financially generous option appeared in the UAE. As a result, Lucas signed a two-year contract with Al-Wahda with a salary of €1.5 million per season.

And of those who have already left, it is worth noting Nair Tiknizyan, who really wanted to leave Lokomotiv for Europe, as he openly stated at the end of last season. The 26-year-old Armenian, born in St. Petersburg, has achieved his goal. Now he defends the colors of the Red Star — the Serbian club paid € 1.7 million for him to Loko.

Also, 25-year-old striker Timur Suleymanov left the Cherkizovo team and joined Rostov.

Do you remember Marko Rakonjac? The 25-year-old Montenegrin forward, who has played 12 games in the Russian Premier League since the summer of 2022, has finally become a free agent. Now the legend of the Chukarichki club will be looking for a new job.

What else

The Grozny Akhmat stands out in a special way among the nominal middle peasants and outsiders of the RPL. The team has already signed six players under new coach Alexander Storozhuk: 28-year-old Argentine winger Brian Mansilla was bought from Orenburg for €1.7 million, and 27-year-old left-back Maxim Sidorov was taken from there for €800 thousand. Akhmat also acquired a pair from Dynamo Makhachkala — midfielders Egash Kasintura (€1.2 million; 27 years old) and Abakar Hajiyev (€500 thousand; 21 years old), and two more free agents — 22-year-old defender from Angola Manuel Keliano and prodigal son, 27-year-old striker Mohamed Konate.

Krylia Sovetov, under the leadership of new head coach Magomed Adiev, signed three Russians for free: Nikita Kokarev, a 22-year-old ex-Khimki goalkeeper, Alexey Sutormin, a 31-year-old ex-Zenit winger, and Sergey Bozhin, a 30-year-old ex-Fakel defender. Vadim Rakov, a 20-year-old winger, was also leased from Loko.

Baltika, which returned to the RPL, invested decently in three foreign players by its standards. 26-year-old Bosnian midfielder Stefan Kovac was bought from Serbian Partizan for € 1.2 million, and Kaliningrad residents paid 900 thousand each for 25-year-old forward of Bulgarian Arda Chinonso Offor and his peer, defensive midfielder Ayman Mourid from Moroccan Union.