FC Fakel Voronezh midfielder Aleksei Sutormin believes high-profile free agents Artem Dzyuba, Aleksandr Kokorin, and Daler Kuzyaev would significantly strengthen the Russian Premier League club.
Speaking in an interview with Russian sports network Match TV, Sutormin addressed the possibility of the experienced trio joining the Voronezh side ahead of the continuing domestic campaign.
Sutormin explained that completing a move for any player, even a free agent, requires mutual interest from both the club management and the player involved. He added that Dzyuba, Kokorin, and Kuzyaev are all quality footballers who would certainly help Fakel's squad, stating it would be great if they arrived in Voronezh while wishing them success in their future careers regardless.
Free agent targets
All three players mentioned by Sutormin bring extensive international and domestic experience. Striker Artem Dzyuba is Russia's joint all-time top scorer at the international level and a former national team captain, while forward Aleksandr Kokorin has played for top Russian clubs including Dynamo Moscow and Zenit Saint Petersburg, as well as Fiorentina in Italy. Midfielder Daler Kuzyaev featured prominently for Zenit before moving to French club Le Havre.
Fakel Voronezh, based in southwestern Russia, returned to the Russian Premier League in 2022 after a 21-year absence from the top flight. The club has consistently worked to secure its status in Russia's top tier against rivals with significantly larger financial resources.
Defeat to CSKA Moscow
During the same interview, Sutormin also reflected on Fakel's recent 0-1 loss to CSKA Moscow in the fourth round of the Russian Premier League season. The midfielder acknowledged that the team should have extracted a better outcome from the match, stating that Fakel created opportunities and should have scored, but ultimately failed to capitalize on their chances.
The home defeat leaves Fakel sitting at the bottom of the 16-team league table. The Voronezh club occupies 16th place with just one point from their opening four matches of the league campaign.
Upcoming fixtures
Fakel will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they return to domestic action on August 22. The Voronezh team is scheduled to play at home against Orenburg in their fifth round fixture.
