Santos Laguna has made a formal offer to sign Argentine defender Nicolás Tripichio, the captain of San Lorenzo de Almagro, according to a report by Record MX on Wednesday. The Mexican club, sitting 17th in Liga MX with just one point from six games, is urgently seeking to strengthen its squad to reverse a critical run of form.
The board, led by Alejandro Irarragorri, is looking for new players to help break the bad streak, as the president stated. The offer for Tripichio is around $2 million and aims to acquire 100% of his economic rights. This move comes during a crucial transfer window for a team that has conceded 11 goals while scoring only 4 in the Apertura 2026 season.
Who is Nicolás Tripichio?
Nicolás Tripichio is a 30-year-old centre-back with a solid career in Argentine football. He began his professional career at Vélez Sarsfield and later played for Defensa y Justicia, where he won the Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa Sudamericana. After a brief stint with Club Guaraní in Paraguay, he returned to Argentina to sign for San Lorenzo in 2024, a club that paid approximately $600,000 for 80% of his transfer rights. His leadership in defense earned him the captain's armband at El Ciclón.
His potential arrival in Torreón would be to shore up a defense that has shown major cracks. Santos Laguna has five losses and one draw in the current campaign, with a -7 goal difference. Check the team's full performance on our stats page.
Why is Santos Laguna seeking a defender?
The defensive need is evident after the terrible start to the season. The team has finished last in three of the last five Liga MX seasons, with an 11th-place finish as its best result. The long-term injury to forward Lucas Di Yorio, which will sideline him for almost the entire tournament, worsens the crisis but is not the only problem. A lack of solidity at the back has been a constant.
The signing of youngster Esteban Lozano, a product of Club América's academy, was a first step. However, the board believes the experience and character of a player like Tripichio are required to organize the backline. The team is 15 points behind leaders Club America, so any improvement must be immediate.
What is the context at San Lorenzo?
Tripichio's potential departure is being negotiated during a turbulent time for San Lorenzo. Manager Néstor Gorosito left his position after the defeat to Instituto, as the coach himself confirmed. This vacancy on the bench could influence the Argentine club's willingness to negotiate their captain's exit, especially given a substantial offer that multiplies their initial investment in the player.
For Santos Laguna, time is of the essence. The next fixture is a difficult away match against 10th-placed Cruz Azul on September 7th. Fans can follow the schedule in our fixtures section. Adding a defender with international pedigree like Tripichio could be the missing piece to start collecting points consistently.
What does this offer mean for the market?
A $2 million offer for a 30-year-old player demonstrates the seriousness of Santos Laguna's intent. It represents a clear bet on immediate experience over long-term projection. If the deal is completed, Tripichio would become one of the club's most expensive signings in the current market, destined to be a leader in the dressing room.
The team urgently needs to change its dynamic, especially after managing a goalless draw against Tigres UANL on August 30th, which stopped a losing streak. The current squad, which you can review on our squad list, requires this type of reinforcement to climb the standings. The closing of the transfer window will set the definitive course for the rest of the Apertura 2026.
