Phoenix ‘very close’ to confirming new visa signing: ‘That’s the only clue I’ll give you’

'We're very close to getting someone' | Giancarlo Italiano | Pre-Match Press Conference | Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory

Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano said the Isuzu UTE A-League club are set to unveil a new overseas signing next week after an in-depth scouting mission of players in both South America and Europe to cover injured forward Marco Rojas.

Rojas returned to the Phoenix ahead of the 2024-25 season but an ankle injury is set to keep the New Zealand international out for the majority of the campaign.

Englishman David Ball’s departure in January opened up a visa slot for the Phoenix to fill in the transfer window and Wellington are expected to use the opportunity to bolster the squad with a signing with similar attacking quality to Rojas.

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Italiano said the Phoenix are “very close” to unveiling the new signing, and that the length of time it has taken to secure the incoming visa player’s signature will be explained upon the player’s official unveiling.

“We’re very close at the moment. Just in the final stages,” Italiano said.

“It’s a bit of a unique case. It probably would’ve been done earlier, maybe about a week ago. But when we unveil the signing, we’ll just make it clear what the scenario was.

“I’m hoping they’ll be in early next week and hopefully be on their feet straight away. Availability will really depend on screening and so on. So I’m hoping within the next two weeks.

“It will be an import, yeah. I’m not hiding anything. It will definitely be an import. 

“We’ve looked across multiple markets, South America, Europe – Europe’s a little bit more unique in the sense that, obviously a lot of European targets are wanting, or a majority want to stay in Europe so they usually wait for the transfer deadline day to pass before they start exploring outside options, Asia and so on.

“South America’s a little bit different. But again, we’ve scoured or searched everywhere for a suitable replacement and I think we’ve done a really good job.”

Italiano was asked by reporters whether the player was coming from South America.

“No,” he replied. “That’s the only clue I’ll give you.”

Italiano was forced to experiment with his attacking unit this season, in the aftermath of Rojas’ ankle injury suffered in mid-December.

The Phoenix coach pushed central midfielder Kazuki Nagasawa higher up the pitch into a No. 10 role to link with the likes of Hideki Ishige and Kosta Barbarouses in the final third. 

“My plans at the beginning of the year were (that) my front three were going to be Kosta, Ishige and Marco and build on that relationship,” Italiano said. 

“Unfortunately, I’ve only had two halves of football all year with those three playing. You saw little glimpses of it against Macarthur and even in a friendly we had against Wanderers at the beginning of the year, it looked really nice. So I’ve put more pressure on Kazu to step up a little bit higher; he’s played in those roles before. He was traditionally a No. 10 earlier in his career but as he’s aged a bit he’s moved toward an eight or six role. 

“So it’s going to be more about time for him and getting used to that role again, and finding his relationship with Kosta, Ishige and so on.”

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Kazuki Nagasawa.

Italiano also addressed rumours of English Championship club Stoke City’s reported interest in 18-year-old Phoenix striker Luke Supyk before the English transfer window closed early Tuesday morning (AEDT). 

Supyk signed a three-year deal with the Phoenix in 2023.

“I think there was some interest from the club. But I’m not sure where that is at the moment,” Italiano said.

“Every player I’ve signed I want to keep… for me, I’m really happy for him that he has interest from a club and there are other players that have had interest, but any signing we make, we want to keep them here as long as possible. But if it’s the right move for him and the right offer, we’re more than happy to aid him in his progress. 

“I think it’s a case-by-case scenario. With any young player, obviously the eagerness is to go overseas, and wanting to explore those opportunities. But it’s like anything: if they’re not ready, not so much from a technical level but even from a mental aspect, going over there can be sometimes just a long stretch in the reserves, or Under-23s or Under-20s and so on, and they come back, and might have been better served here playing longer periods in the A-League and building that maturity.

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Luke Supyk (left) was linked with an overseas move in the January window.

“I think if you look at every successful (Phoenix) player that’s moved out of the A-League, I give Oldy (Ben Old) as an example, it was four years in the environment. It didn’t happen overnight, it took him a long period. 

“Even Waineo (Ben Waine) when he left to go overseas, he’s kind of finding it hard now to get some regular game time but he was in the environment for a couple of years as well.

“I think the only exception, out of all the players I’ve seen so far, was Libby (Cacace). He was probably the most fast-tracked player, and he was still here for two seasons. So I think the right move for the majority of players is to get as much experience as they can, learn to deal with the rigours of playing with men, and dealing with the environment before taking that next step.

“But again, if the right offer (comes), and the player thinks they can do it, then good luck to them.”

Wellington host Brisbane Roar at Sky Stadium in their next Isuzu UTE A-League fixture on Thursday, February 7.

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