Football

Defender Brendon Lucas recently signed for HCM City FC. Photo record.pt

HÀ NỘI — V.League 1 clubs have worked hard in the transfer market to prepare for the proposed return of domestic football at the end of this month.

HCM City FC have made the biggest splash by signing Brazilian defender Brendon Lucas.

The 26-year-old signed a one and a half year deal with HCM City for an undisclosed fee.

Before coming to Thống Nhất Stadium, Lucas played 27 matches for Leixoes SC jersey in Portugal on loan from Portimonense, also in Portugal.

HCM City also terminated the contracts of forwards Dario Frederico da Silva and Junior Barros.

They also let forwards Vũ Quang Nam and Nguyễn Công Thành join the V.League 2's Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu on loans until the end of the season, while the V.League 2's 2018 top scorer Nguyễn Xuân Nam made a permament move to Bình Định.

HCM City, who also extended the contracts of goalkeeper Nguyễn Thanh Thắng and midfielder Trần Thanh Bình, plan to sign more players according to coach Alexandre Polking.

HCM City are No 11 in the table, three spots higher than bottom-placed Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA) who have also made changes to their squad.

Michael Olaha practises during his quarantine time. He is to make a return to Sông Lam Nghệ An this season. Photo of Sông Lam Nghệ An FC facebook

SLNA plan to trial two foreigners, including forward Michael Olaha.

Ohala played 76 matches and scored 18 goals for SLNA in 2017-19 before he moved to Israel's Hapoel Kfar Shalem FC.

The other player on trial is former Nigeria U23 defender Sergio Osagho Uyi.

The 28-year-old journeyman has played for various clubs around Europe and Asia. He went on trial at SLNA last year but failed to win a contract due to injury.

The newcomers are expected to replace defender Igor Jelic and striker Bruno Henrique who look set to be let go after only 10 matches.

Along with new contracts, SLNA have also promoted some of their young players to the first team.

The 18-year-old players who were successful at national junior championships in recent seasons are defender Trịnh Hoàng Cảnh, midfielders Nguyễn Văn Bách, Đinh Xuân Tiến and Hồ Văn Cường, and striker Phan Xuân Đại. 

According to Quảng Ninh FC, their forward Mạc Hồng Quân and midfielder Nghiêm Xuân Tú will move to Bình Định in the second half of the season on permanent deals.

They will reportedly receive VNĐ2.5 billion ($103,000) each per season for 3.5 and 2.5 years, respectively.

Quân's contract with Quảng Ninh was valid until the end of 2023 while Tú's was set to expire at the end of this season.

Even though Quảng Ninh owe them several months worth of salary and bonuses, both had to pay compensation to the club to let them out of their contracts early.

Due to the club's financial problem, defender Dương Văn Khoa and captain Nguyễn Hải Huy are also looking for new homes and have been linked to HCM City.

Meanwhile, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) have not signed new players but have sent several youngsters on loan to Hải Phòng.

U22 player Dụng Quang Nho, defender Trần Hữu Đông Triều and midfielder Châu Ngọc Quang have all moved to the northern port side on temporary deals as they battle to avoid relegation.

"There are talented players in HAGL and I have not had much chance to play. In the second half of the season, I will play for Hải Phòng and hope I will have opportunities to show my skills," said Quang.

Hải Phòng are third from bottom of the table and play Bình Định next.

The V.League 1 is planed to restart on July 31 with the last matches of the first period while the second period might be held in several stadiums in the north from August 4-22. VNS