Atletico Madrid Must Do Everything to Reject Manchester United Saul Transfer Bid
Atletico Madrid have already been active in the transfer market this month, bringing in two midfield reinforcements in the shape of Augusto Fernandez and Matias Kranevitter—the latter being a deal which was agreed last summer.
It has boosted the options available to Diego Simeone and has given Atletico a full squad with plenty of talent, so it might be expected that someone has to depart to balance the books or to secure game time—but Atleti must ensure that player isn't Saul Niguez.
The midfielder has been linked to a pending bid from Manchester United, per Darren Lewis of the Mirror, with Arsenal also interested in the 21-year-old. An £18 million release clause is mentioned which would not be prohibitive to either club.
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"A journalist from COPE who's pretty close to Atleti says Manchester United delegate are in Spain to hold talks with Atleti for Saul Niguez.
— Sergi Domínguez (@FutbolSergi) January 11, 2016"
Form and Talent
Saul, who has a long-term contract until 2020, had to bide his time this season to figure prominently in Atletico's midfield. Having earned the right to feature from November onwards, though, he has looked one of the best players in the team.
With Tiago injured, he was afforded game time centrally, but he has performed on both flanks and in offensive as well as defensive roles in the middle of the park.
His standout display against Celta Vigo at the weekend was a typical example of the blend of physicality and creativity he can bring to the Rojiblancos, especially important with Koke not firing on all cylinders.
It's not difficult to imagine why United would want him; Bastian Schweinsteiger hasn't lived up to the hype, Morgan Schneiderlin doesn't start every game and Ander Herrera doesn't appear entirely trusted by the management.
Saul is a bridge between defensive solidity and invention in the final third, able to do both and with the recovery pace to ensure he doesn't negate duties at either end.
Versatility Lost
Atletico have numbers in their squad to ensure all positions are filled, but Simeone has long been a fan of incorporating a few individuals who can take on the challenge of being utilised in multiple roles. Antoine Griezmann, Koke and Saul himself are the prime candidates in the current squad, but others have left in recent campaigns who offered similar traits.
Raul Garcia is the most obvious (and most recent) departure in that regard, playing centrally, wide right or up front, but Diego Costa, Adrian and Cristian Rodriguez were all similarly versatile.
Right now, Simeone would be loath to lose Saul's adaptability as much as his quality, with injuries and loss of form in key areas being made up for to some extent by the No. 17's all-round ability.
Going forward, it's possible that Saul will develop into a fantastic central midfielder in one particular role, but at the age of 21, there's no reason for that to happen immediately—his exposure to different positions at this point simply gives him a more rounded game and makes him more difficult for opposition players to pin down.
Atleti benefit immensely from that, as well as from the capacity for in-game changes without substitutions that he gives the manager.
Future
A long-term deal is one thing, but if Saul's release clause remains around the €25 million (£18.7 million) level, it needs raising—and fast.
Players don't actually tend to leave for that exact fee, it's generally a little lower. Look at comparable deals in La Liga: Mateo Kovacic cost Real Madrid over €30 million, Koke has had a price tag of closer to €40 million in recent seasons and United themselves paid over €30 million for Schneiderlin.
If a sale has to happen, Atleti need full value for a player who will undoubtedly be capped by Spain within a year or so—but ideally, he will stay right where he is at the Vicente Calderon.
"Saul’s dad said back in February, "He always said that he wants to succeed at Atletico Madrid, to be an important player at this team...
— Robbie Dunne (@bobdonadini) January 12, 2016"
Tactically, Simeone has shifted from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 with greater frequency this season, and it's not hard to envisage a midfield triumvirate of Kranevitter, Saul and perhaps a back-to-full-form Koke as being an exceptional one. The average age of that trio would be 22.3 years—they'd be set for seasons, if they so wished.
Add in the movement, pace and goals ahead of them which the talented Atleti attackers can bring and there's no end in sight for the exciting years and potential silverware at the club.
Saul should be central in the team's plans for those forthcoming campaigns.
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