Atletico Madrid News
Barcelona considering swapping misfiring forward for Atletico Madrid winger
Atletico Madrid’s signing of Memphis Depay from FC Barcelona involved a nominal fee of €3 million. The real cost, however, was hidden in the crypts of the contract.
As part of their bid to sign the Dutch phenom, Atletico Madrid came to a transfer agreement with Barça for Yannick Carrasco. The Belgian is indeed still a Rojiblanco and could don the same colours next season as well. However, Barcelona have the option to sign him for just €15 million come June.
The Catalans, however, are reluctant to shell out that figure and see it to be overkill. Given the Colchoneros’ need to sell players, Barcelona are trying hard to bring down the €15 million price tag.
According to reports from Achraf Ben Ayad, Barcelona are even considering involving Ferran Torres as part of an exchange deal with Atletico Madrid to facilitate the Belgian winger’s arrival.
Barcelona signed Torres from Manchester City for a fee of €55 million in January 2022. However, the Spaniard has struggled to live up to the expectations so far and is merely a bench player under Xavi Hernandez.
The 23-year-old has started only 12 of the Blaugranas’ 30 league games this season and made 26 appearances. In that duration, he has scored four goals and provided one assist.
Carrasco, meanwhile, has three goals and two assists to show in his 28 league appearances this season in addition to 1.1 key passes per game.
Atletico Madrid have held an interest in signing Torres for a while now. And if any party were to win through the potential swap involving the Spaniard and Carrasco, it would be Diego Simeone’s side. After all, the Spaniard is the younger, and more dynamic of the two.
Considering the players’ profiles and transfer values, it would not be surprising if the Catalans demanded a fee in addition to Carrasco for Torres’ signing. The coming weeks could shed more light on the plans at Spotify Camp Nou.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea contact PSG midfielder’s agent with player set to leave
Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are among the clubs that have made contact with the agent of PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes, who is set to leave this summer.
This claim comes from journalist Martin Arevalo on ESPN, who states that apart from Atletico and Chelsea, an unnamed third club have also established contact with the Argentine international’s representative.
Paredes has been on PSG’s books since January 2019, when he arrived from Zenit St. Petersburg. For a large part of his time at the French capital outfit, the midfielder had been a regular starter in the side.
However, last summer saw Paredes get shipped out on loan to Juventus. He has played 33 times for the Bianconeri this season with a return of one goal and assist apiece.
The Serie A heavyweights, who were recently hit with a 10-point deduction, have the option to purchase him permanently. But, as per the report, his relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri is not good and a return to PSG is on the cards.
And considering that he is not in the plans back at Parc des Princes either, a permanent departure away seems set in stone for Paredes.
As such, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and an unnamed club have shown interest in acquiring his services by making contact with the 28-year-old World Cup winner’s agent.
With Koke entering the final phase of his career and Geoffrey Kondogbia expected to leave at the end of the season, the Rojiblancos could do with reinforcements in the centre of the park.
Paredes, who has plenty of experience at the highest level and is known for his aggressive mentality, can be a good fit into Diego Simeone’s setup at the Civitas Metropolitano.
But, with Chelsea also in the picture, things could get tricky for the Colchoneros. After all, Atleti are operating on tight finances and are looking for bargain and free transfer signings in the market with the likes of Marcus Thuram, Jordi Alba, and Raphael Guerreiro emerging as targets.
