Atletico Madrid preparing for summer transfer overhaul

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are set for a transfer shake up this summer, with the La Liga side preparing for a number of arrivals and departures from the Wanda Metropolitano in the coming weeks.

Diego Simeone will have his work cut out to keep some of his star names, with Los Rojiblancos set to end the season empty handed for another year, and the vultures will be circling over the Spanish capital.

French international Antoine Griezmann has confirmed that he will be remaining with the club, which has put an end to another potential summer of transfer speculation over a move to Barcelona.

The retention of Griezmann is key in both a performance sense, and in a demonstration of where Atletico are at as a club, a warning that they are not excessively feeling the effects of a new stadium and the financial hit they have taken.

The most likely transfer saga of the summer is likely to be Saul Niguez’s potential move to Manchester City, despite the midfielder signing a seven year contract in 2018 – to ward off previous interest from Barcelona.

He has a release clause of €150m included into his new deal, however Pep Guardiola’s Premier League side are reported to only be willing to pay €100m – which could lead to a summer of bartering.

Elsewhere in the side, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis are both out of contract at the end of the season, with the former heavily linked with a move to Inter Milan.

Simeone is keen to keep the Uruguayan international for at least another season, and Luis – who is a reported target for Barcelona – may be offered a deal if they are without a left back after Lucas Hernandez agreed a summer move to Bayern Munich.

In attack, Gelson Martins is likely to make his loan move to Monaco a permanent one – provided they are not relegated from Ligue 1 – with Luciano Vietto also likely to move on after a season long loan at Fulham.

Alvaro Morata’s loan is set to be honoured for the full 18 months, despite Chelsea’s transfer ban, a the deal was agreement was confirmed prior to FIFA’s ruling.

In terms of replacements, Hector Herrera has already agreed a free transfer from Porto, with team mate Alex Tellas also heavily rumoured to be considering a move to the club.

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