The head coach of Russian "Lokomotiv" (Novosibirsk), Plamen Konstantinov, publicly commented on the information that appeared in the Russian information space regarding the possible recruitment of outside hitter Fyodor Voronkov and setter Luciano De Cecco into the team.

Rumors about Voronkov and a possible exchange

Earlier, the Telegram channel"Fanat Voleybola"hinted at a possible exchange between "Lokomotiv" and "Dynamo-LO", in which blocker Yuri Brazhnyuk would move to the team from the Leningrad region, and Voronkov would go in the opposite direction. This refers to the current season.

Konstantinov was categorical that there is nothing official at this stage:

"I cannot confirm the information about Voronkov. There are talks. As you can see, Brazhnyuk is in our squad, and Voronkov is not. There are talks, I confirm. This is a topic, but nothing has been signed yet. We are waiting for the next few days – maybe then."

De Cecco and the future of the setter position

The same source also spread information that Simeon (Moni) Nikolov might be replaced at "Lokomotiv" next season by Argentine international Luciano De Cecco. On this topic, Konstantinov clarified:

"Talks with De Cecco have been ongoing since last year. Currently, we are waiting for the situation with Nikolov to clarify – we have options. I can say one thing: if Moni is not there, then it will be De Cecco."

The background of the negotiations

In a previous interview for BO Sport, Plamen Konstantinov revealed that negotiations with the Argentine setter had been ongoing for two and a half months last year. However, De Cecco then refused a transfer to Novosibirsk and remained with Italian "Modena", with whom he had a contract until 2026.

However, the contract was terminated earlier this summer. The management of "Modena" made a strategic choice in favor of the young French setter Amir Tizi-Oualou, for whom the club paid 170 thousand euros to Polish "Częstochowa" and signed a four-year contract.

The Argentine's present situation

After parting ways with "Modena", the 37-year-old De Cecco moved to "Częstochowa", where he currently competes in the Polish PlusLiga.

It is an interesting fact that the Argentine already has experience in the Russian Super League – during the 2009/2010 season, he played for Kaliningrad's "Dynamo-Yantar".

The situation around "Lokomotiv"'s squad remains dynamic, and the coming days are expected to be key for both Moni Nikolov's future and Luciano De Cecco's potential return to Russia.

photo: lokovolley.com