Summer Transfers Who Would Fit Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid Style

After an anticlimactic season in 2014-15, Atletico Madrid enter this summer's transfer window looking to accelerate an evolution in the team's style. 

For several years now, Diego Simeone's men have utilised a grinding, attritional method to achieve extraordinary success in both Spain and Europe. In 2013-14, Atleti did the unthinkable, breaking the hegemony of Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga to claim the club's first Primera Division title in almost 20 years. 

But with Atletico looking to prolong their recent ascent in European football, there's been a recognition from within that a transition needs to occur. Los Colchoneros need to become faster. More efficient. More lethal. To evolve and progress, new challenges are needed—new goals must be set. And Simeone and the team's directors want to kick-start that this summer.

"The team needs a change, a new stimulus," Simeone told AS (via Football Espana). "I'm convinced we need a change, an internal movement where the team takes a step forward."

The Argentinian added that his team is "more ready to play in space," and "to move quickly from defence to attack." Additionally, he insisted Atleti wouldn't be gutted as they were last summer: "This season we will keep the base of the team," he said. 

So who could arrive to strengthen that base? Who would be suitable to help facilitate the shift in style Simeone wants to implement?

B/R takes a look at transfer targets who would fit the Atletico manager's vision. 

Luciano Vietto

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At 0-0 and with just six minutes remaining in normal time, Luciano Vietto broke the deadlock against Atletico Madrid last season, propelling his Villarreal side to rare victory at the Vicente Calderon back in December. 

The strike was one of 12 in the league for the Argentinian—and 18 overall. It came as part of a hot streak for the young forward, one in which he scored five times in four outings to mark himself as one of La Liga's brightest talents.

Now, Simeone is close to bringing him to the banks of the Manzanares, telling AS: "His signing is imminent and I expect to have his services for next season. He's a fine player not dissimilar to David Villa and can play behind a front man and ahead of the midfield. He'll be a great acquisition." 

The 21-year-old is not too dissimilar to Antoine Griezmann—the outstanding forward of Atletico's 2014-15 campaign. Vietto is a pacey, lightly framed forward with quick feet, superb dribbling skills and a strong shot. But what really makes the Villarreal star stand out in his ability to finish with style and power with either foot—an asset that makes him dangerous regardless of his starting position and perfect for a new-look Atleti.

With Simeone planning for "Koke to go in the double pivot," as he told AS (via Football Espana), we could see Los Colchoneros tinker the system, possibly moving toward a 4-2-3-1 in 2015-16. In such a scenario, Vietto would be extremely versatile and, depending upon the opponent, could be used in any of the four attacking slots.

Filipe Luis

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After Filipe Luis' departure to Chelsea last summer, left-back was a problematic area for Atletico Madrid all season in 2014-15.

Brought in to replace the Brazilian, Guilherme Siqueira was unconvincing and looked far more comfortable in attack than he did in defence. Behind him, the on-loan Cristian Ansaldi wasn't seen after November because of injury. As such, Simeone regularly used veteran right-back Jesus Gamez as a makeshift option on the left side of his back four with mixed results. 

Evidently, it's an area of need for Atleti. Simeone's solution? Bring back Luis. 

"He's a player we're very fond of and he knows us well and gave so much to the team," the Atletico manager said of his former player. "I hope this one comes off."

Defensively sound, a robust tackler and extremely durable, Luis would bring back a sense of stability to the left-back position at the Vicente Calderon. Given his experience playing in a back four with Diego Godin and Juanfran, his return would solidify a defensive unit that slipped fractionally last season. 

Jonathas

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Diego Costa's replacement, step right up. 

Okay, so that might be heaping too much pressure and expectation on Jonathas, but the ingredients are there: power, strength, height, pace, aggression and scoring prowess. 

In 2014-15, the Brazilian striker spent the season on loan at Elche from Pescara, and he scored 14 goals in a mightily impressive campaign for a struggling outfit. Possessing that fire and edginess that defines Costa, the 26-year-old was undoubtedly the breakout star of the Primera Division but is almost certain to cut his two-year deal with the Valencian club short because of its financial troubles.

Looking for a new home, Jonathas would be perfect for Atletico. 

Since losing Costa, Atleti have been forced into a shift in approach that's proved difficult, with the arrival of target man Mario Mandzukic demanding a more patient, intricate method in attack. To accommodate the Croatian, Simeone's men have had to play a higher line, retain more possession and sacrifice the conservative positioning of the full-backs. It's been successful to an extent, but the team in 2014-15 did lose some of its explosiveness and lethal edge.

Jonathas would help Atleti recapture the fire and intensity of the 2013-14 campaign while also providing the aggressive, all-round centre-forward package Simeone could build around.