Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid centre-back wanted by La Liga rivals, high wages an impediment
With Atletico Madrid looking to make room for new arrivals in the ongoing transfer window, they are open to offers for a number of players on their roster.
One such player who could be allowed to leave if a good offer came in, according to Mundo Deportivo, is defender Mario Hermoso.
The 27-year-old has been at Atletico Madrid since 2019 when he arrived from RCD Espanyol. But he has never been able to establish himself as an undisputed starter under Diego Simeone and has often been in and out of the team.
Hermoso’s involvement has taken a major hit this season, as indicated by the fact that he has played four games (172 minutes) in La Liga, with one of those appearances ending in a red card, which has ruled him out of the upcoming match against Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid want to sign a new defender and have identified Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu as a target.
While a free transfer in the summer when his contract with Leicester seems certain, Los Rojiblancos are hoping to bring forward his arrival in January and will need to offload one of Felipe or Hermoso in order to do that.
Amidst this, the report claims that two La Liga clubs, in the form of Espanyol and Real Betis, are showing an interest in securing Hermoso’s services. With 18 months left on his contract, Atletico Madrid could look at this window as an opportunity to cash in on the Spaniard.
However, Hermoso’s high wages are proving to be an impediment to any potential exit. Real Betis’ finances are in a delicate situation while Espanyol also have a modest wage budget. Considering that, they would find it difficult to fully cover the Atletico Madrid star’s wages.
It will be interesting to see whether Hermoso is willing to lower his wages or if Atletico are able to offload Felipe instead, which could allow them to bring Soyuncu to the Metropolitano this month.
Sofyan Amrabat is a player in demand, with the midfielder reportedly a top target for various clubs during the January transfer window, as confirmed by his brother.
However, Atletico Madrid are also keeping tabs on the Moroccan international, with the club said to be interested in bringing him to Wanda Metropolitano.
According to Foot Mercato, Amrabat is keen on moving to La Liga, and Atletico Madrid are one of the clubs that he admires. The midfielder had previously praised Atleti boss Diego Simeone, further fueling speculation of a potential move to the Spanish capital.
Atletico Madrid’s interest in Amrabat comes in the midst of uncertainty over the future of Axel Witsel.
The Fiorentina star could be a possible replacement for the Belgian midfielder, whose contract at the club expires at the end of the season, with his father hinting at a possible exit.
However, Atleti would face competition from Barcelona in the pursuit of Amrabat, who appears to be prioritising a move to Camp Nou. The Moroccan international could potentially become an excellent alternative for Barça’s top target, Martin Zubimendi.
However, Fiorentina is unlikely to let the midfielder go cheaply, and Barcelona would have to sort out their economic situation to afford him.
That is where Atletico Madrid might look to get ahead of the Catalans. Although the Spanish giants are also struggling with finances, they may still be able to swoop in and secure the services of the Fiorentina star come the end of the season.
It is too early to deduce anything just yet. A lot will be uncovered as we enter the final phase of the season. Amrabat himself will be keen on making a definitive decision on his future, as he looks to take the next step in his career.
