Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal: Who's winning the race to sign Apuia Ralte?

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East Bengal could be closer in securing the prominent Mumbai City FC midfielder, Apuia Ralte in this summer transfer window. As per recent reports, East Bengal have offered a lucrative deal to Ralte, which shows their earnestness in signing him to bolster their squad ahead of the upcoming season.

Their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan had also expressed interest in securing Ralte's talents. However, it appears that East Bengal has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to secure the midfielder's signature. The key factor that has tipped the scales in East Bengal's favour has been their promise of more playing time to Ralte.

This is a guarantee that Mohun Bagan couldn't assure him. The Mariners have several players for Ralte’s position. They have Glan Martins, Deepak Tangri, and Abhishek Suryavanshi for that position. All three players are effective, especially Suryavanshi who has been associated with their academy since 2018.

Hence, Ralte would not get regular starts at Mohun Bagan. However, reportedly, East Bengal have been able to convince him that he'll get more playing time with the Red and Gold Brigade. The allure of being a pivotal figure in East Bengal's revamped squad seems to have swayed Ralte.

The driving force behind this potential move has been East Bengal's investor, Emami. They have significantly boosted the club's transfer budget for this summer transfer window. With an increased budget at their disposal, East Bengal aim to assemble a formidable team capable of mounting a serious challenge next season.

Should Ralte finalize his move to East Bengal, it would not only bolster the club's midfield but also serve as a statement of intent from the Kolkata-based outfit. As the club strives to reclaim its former glory and establish dominance in the ISL, the addition of Ralte could prove to be a significant step forward in their quest for success.