Sporting Transfer Market: Altimira until 2031

Sergi Altimira is now firmly on Sporting's radar, with the Portuguese giants winning the race against RB Leipzig for the 24-year-old Real Betis midfielder. Sporting and the Spanish club are currently finalizing the last details of the agreement, including payment structures, for a deal reportedly worth €18 million fixed, plus an additional €2 million in bonuses.

The negotiations, which saw initial momentum, a slight lull, and then a renewed push last week, are now reaching their conclusion. This acquisition will provide coach Rui Borges with the crucial number 6 midfielder he sought to complete his midfield, following the earlier signing of Danish talent Silas Andersen. The club has also secured Pedro Lima from Aves SAD and Doumbia from Venezia for the same sector.

Altimira, who had previously met with RB Leipzig (a club that may now pursue Samu Costa, a preferred target for their new coach, Martin Demichelis), is set to arrive in Alvalade in the coming days. He will undergo medical examinations and sign a five-year contract, tying him to Sporting until June 2031. His release clause is expected to be set at €80 million.

It's worth noting that the green and whites initially submitted an offer of €14 million plus €3 million in add-ons, which was rejected. Their current bid of €18 million is still below Betis's initial valuation of €20 million, a figure that could be reached through performance-related objectives. The agreement is imminent, aligning with Betis's desire to finalize this transfer before the close of their 2025/2026 financial year, allowing it to be accounted for by June 30th.

With Altimira's signing, the pursuit of João Palhinha appears to be losing traction. At least for now, a potential deal with Bayern Munich was always complex, especially considering they paid €51 million for the Portuguese midfielder in 2024.