Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq is facing a fresh wave of uncertainty after being left out of Real Sociedad’s pre-season tour to Japan, signalling a likely end to his spell with the Basque outfit.
The 28-year-old, who joined Sociedad from Almería in 2022 for €20 million, has endured a turbulent time at the club, struggling with injuries and inconsistency.
After spending the latter half of last season on loan at Valencia, where he netted six goals in 19 matches, the Super Eagles forward returned to San Sebastián.
However, Umar Sadiq has been omitted from the club’s trip to Asia and their opening pre-season fixture against Pau FC in France.
Cadena SER reports that new head coach Sergio Francisco does not see Sadiq as part of his tactical plans for the upcoming season.
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As a result, the forward has been training individually, awaiting clarity on his next move. With two years left on his contract, Real Sociedad are said to be actively exploring options to offload him.
Valencia have shown continued interest, but are reportedly holding off until the final stages of the transfer window, hoping Sociedad lower their current €8–9 million asking price.
Miguel Corona, head of recruitment at Mestalla, remains an admirer of the striker, but budgetary constraints are proving an obstacle.
A return to Almería also remains on the cards. The Segunda Division side, who benefitted significantly from Sadiq’s goals in their 2021–22 promotion campaign, are monitoring the situation closely.
With Joâo Gonçalves searching for a replacement for departed top scorer Luis Suárez, Sadiq’s name remains high on the shortlist alongside Lucas Boyé.
Though Almería’s financial muscle isn’t what it once was, they could afford a cut-price deal for Umar Sadiq, especially if Sociedad reduce their valuation. Still, his high wages and desire to remain in La Liga’s top flight may complicate matters.
The former AS Roma star is also reportedly on the radar of Spanish side Elche and Turkish club Samsunspor.
With the transfer window ticking down, Sadiq is stuck in limbo: training alone, waiting for a lifeline, and hoping for a call that brings him back into elite-level competition as he eyes a return to the Nigerian national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in December.