Atletico Madrid remain set on bringing in a left-footed central defender before the end of the transfer window, despite their huge spending this summer already. They are pursuing Feyenoord’s David Hancko, but have a deal agreed with Clement Lenglet.
It is believed that Atletico Madrid need a sale, most likely Samu Omorodion, in order to get a deal over the line for one of their priority targets, Hancko or Piero Hincapie. If they cannot get that deal done, then they will turn to Lenglet or Getafe’s Omar Alderete.
🥹🇦🇷🏴 Diego Simeone smiles while trying to get César Azpilicueta to translate the exercise instructions to Conor Gallagher.@mundodeportivo pic.twitter.com/S5om6IoV09
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) August 22, 2024
Barcelona are growing impatient though. Lenglet is open to extending his contract by two years in order to faciliate the move, and spread out the €32m he is due in gross wages over the final two years of the deal into four – that would make it much more economical for Barcelona and Atletico to agree a move.
Shifting his wages are a key part of Barcelona’s attempt to lower their wage bill though, and in order to make other moves happen, Lenglet’s exit is necessary. Hence Sport say they have given Los Rojiblancos a deadline of the end of the weekend to complete a move for Lenglet. The same source note that he has offers from elsewhere, but Lenglet continues to prioritise a switch to Atletico, which is at a higher level and pays him better too.
Survey: If one them has to leave, who would you prefer – Eric García or Andreas Christensen? 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/FXe27PV4BY
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 22, 2024
If Lenglet is willing to wait for Atletico, as he has been so far, then it leaves Barcelona without much leverage for their deadline. The consequence is likely that both teams edge towards the transfer deadline in limbo, until the final days of the transfer market, unless Los Colchoneros do secure a sale for Omorodion and a deal for Hancko. That would clarify matters, but until then, Atletico will likely keep their options open.
