Manolo González's side are working to lighten the squad in order to create room for further incoming business, and the plan appears to be following the same pattern that saw Jose Salinas depart for Málaga earlier this week. According to La Grada, right-back Rubén Sánchez could be next through the exit door at the RCDE Stadium.
Sánchez has struggled for regular involvement over the past year, featuring sparingly last season and continuing to look short of match sharpness in pre-season, including a costly error in the recent friendly against Sabadell. Espanyol have now informed both the player and his representatives that the club believes a departure would suit everyone involved.
Finding a solution that works for both sides will not be straightforward. With only a year left on his contract, Sánchez risks leaving for nothing next summer if he stays put, which limits how much Espanyol can realistically demand for a player who — barring a change of plan — would otherwise walk away as a free agent in 2027.
The club previously turned down an approach from England, with Charlton Athletic having a bid rejected as insufficient a few weeks ago, though Espanyol's growing urgency to resolve the situation before the market closes may soften their stance this time around.
Freeing up that spot on the wage bill ties into one of sports director Monchi's other priorities this summer: strengthening the centre of defence. Various names have been floated in recent days, but journalist Matteo Moretto reported that Espanyol are now in talks over Brighton's Igor Julio, with the Brazilian emerging as the leading candidate to fill the void left by the departure of players such as Calero.
Igor, 28, already has plenty of experience of European football despite his relatively modest profile. Contracted to Brighton until 2027 — meaning just one season would remain on any deal — he previously spent time in Italy with Fiorentina, where he made 42 appearances, and had loan spells in Austria with Salzburg, Liefering, Wolfsberger and Austria Wien before his move to English football.
His time on the south coast has been mixed: he played a regular role in his first season at Falmer stadium, then was loaned to West Ham for the 2025-26 campaign, only for the Hammers to cut that loan short in January after his involvement dropped away and the club turned to other options.
Standing 1.85m and comfortable on the left side of a defensive pairing, Igor's underused status at Brighton leaves some questions over his current level, though his physical profile and continental experience make him an interesting option for a rearguard in need of reinforcement this summer.