Negotiations between Cruz Azul and Monaco for 26-year-old Mexican defensive midfielder Erik Lira are progressing, and a resolution on the player's future is expected this week as the transfer window is nearing its end. The French club is preparing a third offer, which Cruz Azul expects to be above the amount they have set for his departure. Cruz Azul is willing to consider Monaco's proposal, but the club's management has clarified that the offer must meet their financial expectations for the deal to be finalized. As a precaution to avoid injury while his contractual situation is unresolved, Lira was not called up for the match against Atlas and is also not expected to be considered for the upcoming game against Necaxa, though he has returned to training. The transfer could also be affected by Monaco's need to free up a non-EU player slot, with Folarin Balogun's situation being relevant to their planning. Lira has 29 caps for Mexico and is under contract with Cruz Azul until 2029. His current market value is €14.00m, according to Transfermarkt. It was reported that Monaco made a formal offer of around €5 million in August 2026. It was also reported that Cruz Azul's asking price in talks with the club was around €7 million in July 2026.