Atletico Madrid are having a strong La Liga campaign.
While the dysfunction at Barcelona and the issues at Real Madrid have helped,
Atleti also have a brilliant coach in Diego Simone and greater squad depth than their rivals.
But that depth needs to be maintained. Atleti’s transfer work is complicated,
with CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin signing off on deals that are arranged by Sporting Director
Andrea Berta. Berta is low profile. He rarely gives interviews and works closely
with a strong recruitment team and a trusted group of agents, including Jorge Mendes.
And they’ll need to be working that network in 2021. A recent article by Dermot Corrigan
on The Athletic highlighted two key needs for Simeone’s side:
a striker who leads the line, and a back-up full-back, ideally who could offer cover
to both sides. One of those gaps has now been filled: Lyon’s Moussa Dembele has agreed a loan
with the option to buy and he should form a compelling partnership with Joao Felix.
But depth in midfield is also important,
especially since the departure of Thomas Partey to Arsenal, and that’s where we start.
Partey has left a hole. Atletico became increasingly reliant on
his press-breaking passes and carries last season and while Koke has been excellent,
another all-round midfielder would be helpful, if not a priority.
Our suggestion is Boubakary Soumare, Lille’s 21-year-old box-to-box midfielder,
who excels at two things that Partey brough to Atleti – ball-carrying through a press
and progressive passing from central midfield into dangerous areas.
Soumare is a rugged defender, no unlike Wilfred Ndidi in his tackling style.
He’s also a very capable carrier - elegant at times.
He uses his body to keep the ball safe and his long stride to run away from opponents.
Like Partey, he’s good at threading passes through the opposition lines, sometimes
having just run at pace through the first line of the press. Again, a quality that Atleti covet.
Soumare is a valuable commodity and has been a gossip column regular for some time.
Because of the MediaPro situation in France, Ligue 1 is now a buyer’s market
and this applies to Lille more than most. Simeone and Atletico should be all in.
Another they could target is Vicente Esquerdo,
who might also be more obtainable because of his club’s financial issues.
Esquerdo is 21 and has started to get some minutes for the first team, impressing with
his ball-winning, long passing, and ability to find players in dangerous areas. He’s such a
well-rounded player that it’s only a matter of time before someone starts paying attention.
The sensible option is Napoli’s Elseid Hysaj. He can play on either flank, though he’s better
as a right-back, and he’s found himself largely a peripheral figure under Gattuso this season.
Hysaj is a fairly no-nonsense defender, although tackling dribbling players is a weakness,
and his pressing success rate has dropped off as his minutes have declined. That’s
understandable though, as it’s a facet of the game that requires practice and consistent application.
Hysaj can get forwards and provide crosses, though he’s not exactly an attacking full back.
His versatility and mentality are what have made him a long-term target for Atleti,
and his contract at Napoli is due to run out in June, which makes him an excellent option.
Another would be Salzburg’s 25-year-old Albert Vallci, who can play on either flank and even
as a centre-back. He’s predominantly right footed, but he’s a reliable passer with either.
Defensively, he has a nose for snapping in to win the ball ahead of the receiving opponent;
he’s also quick on the overlap, 6ft3 and aerially strong, while also a
solid one-on-one defender. He’s probably no more than a squad player for better sides,
but that’s all Atleti need – and the extra versatility would be an asset.
One more to keep an eye on is Anderlecht’s 18-year-old Killian Sardella,
who is right footed but has played left back and centre-half too. He’s quick, possesses a
snappy pass, a good long throw, and looks at home in top-flight football despite his age.
He needs to work on his defensive positioning, but that should happen over time, and if he can build
on last season’s promise he could become very interesting. He’ll need more time on the pitch.
Despite Dembele’s arrival, Simeone could still do with some further depth – particularly with Luis
Suarez approaching the end of his career, Diego Costa having been released and Juventus possessing
the option to make Alvaro Morata’s loan permanent. So, we’re looking to the future.
Benfica reserves’ Goncalo Ramos is already showing signs of becoming a very well-rounded
striker at just 19. Powerful in the air, possessing a fierce shot from distance,
and abrasive enough to enjoy tackling back and pushing around defenders,
he fits the Atleti template well and is definitely one to keep an eye on.
And so is Sparta Prague’s Adam Hlozek. He's six foot one and physically strong,
comfortably able to hold off defenders. Hlozek is more versatile than Ramos,
playing at times as a winger or a ten, but with strong running and a powerful shot,
he would work well in a team that needs a striker to make runs in behind and hold off defenders.
He’s just 18 and looks like a real prospect.