V.League's gloomy "market session".
Up to this point, besides the Hanoi Police Club, other V.League teams have not yet announced any truly "monumental" transfer contracts. The police team extended the contract with Nguyen Quang Hai, obtaining the signatures of Alan, Dinh Trong, Van Duc (Binh Dinh) and especially Jason Quang Vinh Pendant - an overseas Vietnamese star playing in France's Ligue 2. .
Hanoi Club also only announced two average players, Ho Thanh Minh (Hue) and Chu Van Kien (HCMC).
The Cong Viettel had to give up the target of Patrik Le Giang because the transfer fee was too high. They were pleased to renew with Van Phong, adding Bui Van Duc and Nguyen Minh Tung. However, Hoang Duc leaving is a difficult problem for Coach Duc Thang.
Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa Club, although having to compete in 3 arenas in the 2024-2025 season, has not announced any new recruits. The Thanh team proactively retained all their pillars, re-signing two foreign soldiers, Rimario Gordon and Luiz Antonio, and Gustavo also returned. Not to mention, Thanh Hoa must resolve outstanding bonuses and salaries.
Some other clubs are also "silent" in the transfer market such as Da Nang, Quang Nam, Hai Phong, Binh Dinh and Song Lam Nghe An. These teams have a moderate spending level, so they try to choose targets that fit the amount of money on hand, giving priority to using young players and loan contracts from big teams.
It is not a coincidence that the V.League became unusually quiet even during the transfer season. The financial "storm" caused the boss's wallet to tighten. Maintaining a football team is still difficult, let alone "racing" for escalating player prices. They take risks, using young players instead of considering suitable contracts.
Pressure from the First Division
Economic difficulties are not the only reason why V.League teams are "given up" when shopping. The huge pressure from the three First Division teams makes many clubs in the national championship unable to compete.
PVF-CAND, Binh Phuoc and Tre Ho Chi Minh City clubs are the teams aiming for promotion. These teams alone have bought nearly 30 players in just one short month. Many players who transfer to the above teams can start or even be stars in the V.League.
Current runner-up PVF-CAND doesn't have much money but was able to buy Tran Van Hoa, Martin Lo, Ryan Ha and Nguyen Huy Hung. Meanwhile, Binh Phuoc has the signatures of Tan Sinh, Sam Ngoc Duc, Le Van Nam, Hoang Duong, Sy Giap, Mac Duc Viet Anh... Ho Chi Minh City Youth also possesses the force that many other teams covet such as Huu Tuan. , Ngoc Bao, Van Thuan, Van Thanh, Minh Binh, Van Tung, Dinh Thanh Binh...
As the transfer value of players increases and the supply of players becomes increasingly tight, the role of the coach becomes even more important. Their ability to develop young talent, "cook rice, pick fish sauce" will help the team overcome difficulties.
The large gap between rich and poor between teams in the same tournament is not good. Still, there are positives in a dark picture. Because they cannot buy much, some teams are forced to use young players and look back at the work of building their next generation. In the past few years, many V.League teams have carelessly "built houses from the roof" because of the approach of "where there is a shortage, buy there to make up for it".
But now things are different, only a few teams can do this. When young players are given the opportunity to play continuously in harsh environments, they will quickly improve and create diversity in the transfer market.
Only clubs - cells of V.League that focus on their sustainable "health" can the tournament develop stably. From here, the strength of the national team will be enhanced and Vietnamese football will move in the right direction.
