Song Lam Nghe An is facing a dilemma regarding its domestic players.
The new sponsor has brought much hope to Song Lam Nghe An ahead of the 2026/27 V.League season. However, with a number of key players leaving the team, the issue of domestic player availability remains a major challenge for the Nghe An team.
Have money Not yet sure Satisfied buy Okay internal soldier
The acquisition of Song Lam Nghe An Football Club by Sao Vang Beer, Wine and Beverage Group Joint Stock Company marks a new chapter for one of Vietnam's most traditional football clubs. A new sponsor means more stable financial resources, a more professional operating mechanism, and greater expectations from fans.
However, it would be overly optimistic to think that simply having a new sponsor will immediately transform Song Lam Nghe An. For Song Lam Nghe An, the biggest challenge right now lies not only in foreign players but also in the domestic squad.
Immediately after the 2025/26 season ended, the Nghe An team parted ways with several important players. Most notably, the trio of Vuong Van Huy, Ngo Van Luong, and Tran Manh Quynh. These were all almost irreplaceable links in Coach Van Sy Son's tactical scheme last season.
These three players not only regularly start but also bring stability in both defensive and attacking capabilities. Previously, Song Lam Nghe An also parted ways with center-back Le Van Thanh. Further back, goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet and midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien, two outstanding products of the Nghe An youth academy, also moved to play for The Cong Viettel.
Looking at the list of departing players, it's clear that the void left is significant. The problem is that, even with additional financial resources, it's currently very difficult for Song Lam Nghe An to find quality domestic players to replace them. The domestic player transfer market has been active for months. Most of the good players have already completed contracts with new clubs. There aren't many free agents at this time, and even fewer who are capable of replacing the key players that Song Lam Nghe An has just parted ways with.
In other words, even if a new sponsor is willing to spend money, acquiring quality domestic players at this time is not simple. And this is probably the difficult problem that Coach Van Sy Son will have to face.
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Given the difficulty in recruiting quality domestic players, the most viable solution for Song Lam Nghe An remains to continue placing faith in its youth academy. According to initial reports, the Nghe An team is likely to promote 2 to 3 U19 players to the first team after the National U21 Championship concludes. These will be players currently in good form and performing well in the 2026 National U21 Championship.
However, this is also a cause for concern for many. Unlike previous golden generations, the players born between 2006 and 2008 at Song Lam Nghe An have not yet produced many truly outstanding talents capable of immediately competing in the V.League.
Therefore, giving opportunities to young players is almost a necessary choice rather than the optimal solution. A positive sign is that the new sponsor is also quickly starting to improve professional quality. The fact that Song Lam Nghe An is preparing to bring in a Brazilian fitness coach shows that the investment direction goes beyond simply strengthening the squad; it also aims to improve the physical fitness of young players.
This is considered a necessary step, because the biggest gap between youth football and the V.League lies not only in technical skills but also in strength, physical fitness, and the ability to maintain the intensity of competition.
In fact, at the end of last season, coach Van Sy Son boldly gave Minh Hoi and Tan Minh a chance to move up from the youth team to the first team. The initial performances of these two players have shown positive signs, although they still need more time to gain experience.
In the current squad, Song Lam Nghe An's core still has key players like Hoang Van Khanh, Khac Ngoc, and new foreign players who will be added. The two wing positions are likely to be revamped with Long Vu and Vietnamese-born midfielder Karim Phi Long Tran, while Ho Van Cuong is also recovering well from injury and could return after the first few rounds of matches.
However, overall, the void left by Ngo Van Luong, Tran Manh Quynh, and Vuong Van Huy is still not easy to fill. The new sponsor will certainly bring new life to Song Lam Nghe An, from the benefits and working environment to the team's morale. But bringing the team back into the competitive group in the V.League will require more than just contracts or financial investments.
The 2026/27 season will most likely be a transitional season for Song Lam Nghe An. Therefore, it will be difficult to expect the team to immediately compete for high positions in the V.League. This is because, for Song Lam Nghe An, domestic players have always been the foundation of their identity and strength. While the next generation of players still needs time to gain experience and mature, the new sponsor, despite bringing new resources and expectations, is unlikely to immediately create a leap in performance.
