Independiente eyes Juan Martín Lucero to replace Gabriel Ávalos, but the deal looks complicated

Independiente already knows what it's like to close a deal with Universidad de Chile. Just a few weeks ago the club landed Franco Calderón on loan, and now, according to the fan outlet Orgullo Rojo, the leadership of the Rey de Copas has set its sights on another name from the Chilean squad: striker Juan Martín Lucero.

The Rojo's plan is clear: it needs a replacement for Gabriel Ávalos, who left for Olimpia and left a hole up front. Lucero, who has a history with Colo Colo, looks like a high-caliber option to compete in 2026, but the matter isn't as simple as signing a piece of paper.

An uphill deal

The first complication is financial. Sources at Universidad de Chile acknowledge that negotiations for the "Gato" look tough, to the point that the Chilean club itself would need to cover part of the striker's salary to clear the way for his move to Avellaneda. That's no small detail when it comes to moving a player with a significant contract from one country to another.

Then there's the other problem, perhaps the more fundamental one: Lucero's current form doesn't help his case. The outlet that broke the story was blunt in describing his season:

Lucero is going through an extremely modest and inconsistent campaign in Chilean soccer, far from his best years and with a pronounced scoring drought that raises a huge question mark over whether he's really the high-caliber option Independiente needs in 2026 to make up for Ávalos's goals.Orgullo Rojo

The numbers back up that assessment. This season, the 34 year old forward has managed just three goals and five assists in 27 matches for the U. Those figures have him under considerable scrutiny at the Romántico Viajero and, right off the bat, raise doubts about whether he's in shape to take on the leading role Ávalos left behind in Independiente's attack.

Does it make sense for Independiente to keep pushing for a player who isn't at his best and who, on top of that, requires extra salary spending? That's the dilemma. The experience and the goals from past seasons remain an argument in his favor, but the current drought and the cost of the deal mean the Rojo's front office has to move carefully before making a serious push for the Chilean striker.