4 Atletico Madrid Players Who Should Be Loaned out in 2015-16 Season

Atletico Madrid have already been very active in this summer's transfer window, agreeing on a number of high-profile deals for both incoming and outgoing players. 

Indeed, Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto have both been signed to bolster Diego Simeone's forward stocks, while Mario Mandzukic, Arda Turan, Toby Alderweireld and Miranda have all been sold. Additionally, Leo Baptistao has been loaned out to Villarreal. 

According to reports Atletico are still looking for further additions, too, with Mundo Deportivo (h/t Inside Spanish Football) reporting Atleti are interested in Napoli's Faouzi Ghoulam and Jose Callejon, the latter having long been linked with Los Colchoneros. 

Evidently, Simeone and Atletico are intent on revitalising the club's attack with an influx of high-quality forwards, meaning a number of Atleti's reserve options in that area in particular will need to make way. 

Across the following slides, we examine four players Atletico Madrid should loan out for the 2015-16 season. 

Javier Manquillo

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Atletico Madrid right-back Javier Manquillo spent the 2014-15 season on loan at Liverpool, in what was supposed to be the first year of a two-season stint at Anfield. 

But things didn't work out for the defender in England, as he made only 10 Premier League appearances under Brendan Rodgers and was barely seen in a Reds shirt after December. As such, Atletico Madrid have decided to cut short his stay at Liverpool, with the club releasing a statement explaining the decision:

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Javier Manquillo will not fulfil his second season on loan with Liverpool. The player and Atlético de Madrid decided that the winger from Madrid would go to Anfield’s club for two seasons to enjoy the necessary minutes to continue growing football-wise. However, in this first season with the 'Reds', the defender has not had all the minutes he and our club consider necessary for that purpose of accumulating experiences in his sports growth, so by mutual consent, it has been decided that he will not follow under the discipline of the English team.

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However, significant playing time at the Vicente Calderon next season also appears unlikely for the 21-year-old, with both Juanfran and Jesus Gamez available to Diego Simeone at right-back. As such, Atletico have indicated the Madrilenian will decide in the coming days where he'll spend the 2015-16 campaign on loan, with Portuguese outfit Benfica reported to be among the interested parties, per A Bola (h/t Inside Spanish Football).

Raul Jimenez

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Raul Jimenez endured a difficult first season at the Vicente Calderon after joining Atletico Madrid from Club America for €11 million last summer. 

Relegated behind Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres in Diego Simeone's pecking order, the young centre-forward saw just four league starts in 2014-15, scoring just the solitary goal in all competitions. 

In a few fleeting moments we saw glimpses of the Mexican's potential, with his power and athleticism obvious to all. But Jimenez also appeared short on the technical quality and touch required to excel in La Liga, and would benefit from a season away on loan given that Atletico's forward stocks already look very deep after the signings of Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto. 

According to Marca, both Porto and Benfica represent possible destinations for the striker next season, even though he's expressed his desire to fight for his place at the Vicente Calderon. Mundo Deportivo (h/t Inside Spanish Football) reports Espanyol is also an option. 

Angel Correa

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Marca have included him as one fifth of "The Jackson Five," the name given to Atletico Madrid's quintet of forwards that also features Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto, Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann. 

Angel Correa, at just 20 years of age, is the youngest member of the group, but hasn't yet played for Atletico Madrid because of heart surgery last year following his switch to the Vicente Calderon last May. 

According to Marca:

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With Griezmann's situation dealt with, the only question mark hanging over Atlético's five-man attack is Correa. The club have every faith he will fulfil his huge potential. Right now though, nobody knows whether he will stay with the squad or go out to another club on loan in order to get some experience under his belt. There are no lack of offers for him, but Simeone wants to see him in the Los Angeles de San Rafael training camp to follow his progress and make a decision.

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Following Arda Turan's exit, Atletico Madrid are in need of a forward/attacking midfielder, but as mentioned on the opening slide the potential pursuit of Jose Callejon could possibly give Correa yet another competitor for the limited attacking slots in Diego Simeone's formation. Yet, even if Callejon doesn't arrive, playing time will still be scarce for the Argentinian, making a loan move a logical option for a talented but vastly inexperienced forward. 

During last season, both Rayo Vallecano and Rosario Central were floated as possible options, and the former would be an ideal destination given Rayo's adventurous, attacking style and close proximity to Atletico. 

Borja Baston

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Borja Baston, also known as Borja Gonzalez, is an Atletico Madrid striker who's a product of the club's youth system but who's only ever made one senior appearance for his life-long club. 

After suffering a serious knee injury in his debut in 2010, the forward, 22, has spent four consecutive seasons on loan at Real Murcia, Huesca, Deportivo La Coruna and Real Zaragoza. At the last of those destinations in 2014-15 he enjoyed a breakout year, tallying 23 league goals to finish joint-second in the Segunda Division's scoring charts behind Ruben Castro. 

Clearly, he's a player Atletico Madrid should hang onto. But like Raul Jimenez and Angel Correa, Baston will find playing time hard to come by at the Vicente Calderon in 2015-16, and the club will most likely look to get the striker regular first-team experience elsewhere in Spain's top division. 

According to AS (h/t Inside Spanish Football), Real Betis, Villarreal and Getafe are all interested in the emerging forward, with the latter tipped to win the race for his services.