Biggest Issues Facing Atletico Madrid in Final Month of 2015 Transfer Window
Atletico Madrid have had a great summer so far, both in terms of work in the transfer market and in positive results during pre-season, during which time the new faces seem to have gelled seamlessly into the Atleti way of working.
In the final weeks before the new season kicks off in la Liga, Diego Simeone may look to tie up one or two more loose ends to be perfectly happy with the shape of his squad, but the major surgery is all over and done with.
Here's a look at the remaining issues they have left to overcome before 2015-16 gets underway.
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Loans Away
Atletico's squad is deep and their objectives are clear: to compete in all competitions right to the very end, to try and win at least one. They'll need a squad—but they also need to ensure the continued development of the younger players who are not going to be involved with first-team action.
Centre-back Emiliano Velazquez is the first who fits that bracket; having spent last year on loan at Getafe and amassing considerable playing time, the 21-year-old will head back to the same club this term in anticipation of garnering further experience. He has been on tour in Asia with Atletico, but with Lucas Hernandez having impressed centrally, Velazquez will join up with Getafe this week, per Marca (in Spanish).
The same looks to be on the cards for Raul Jimenez.
No longer a promising youngster, the Mexican didn't settle well in his debut season in Spain and, aged 24, he now needs to be showing the sort of talent needed to win a place on a regular basis—or move on. It's likely he'll spend a season on loan first before Atleti decide whether or not to cut their losses, but he won't get game time ahead of Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto, Fernando Torres or Antoine Griezmann. AS report (h/t Metro) that West Ham United are among the interested parties.
The one other youngster who certainly does have a future, but may benefit from game time elsewhere this term, is Angel Correa. He has impressed in pre-season, mainly from a wider berth, but after very little football last season following heart surgery and still being only 20, first-team action might be of immense benefit to him.
Saul Niguez, Oliver Torres and the aforementioned Lucas Hernandez are all part of the first-team squad this term.
Thiago Motta
The one position where a first-team addition may yet happen is in central midfield. With Mario Suarez departing, the quartet available and likely to feature regularly is talisman Koke, captain Gabi and the ageless Tiago Mendes, plus the energetic and youthful Thomas Partey.
Thomas spent time on loan at Almeria last term and proved himself more than useful by the end of the campaign with his surging runs from deep as well as his all-action, combative style in the middle. He may, however, go out on loan again—if Atleti finalise the signing of PSG's Thiago Motta.
The former Barcelona midfielder has openly spoken about his wish to join Atleti, though nothing is finalised. It would be the final piece in the puzzle for Simeone and give the team balance, depth and experience throughout the centre.
Ruben Perez is not expected to be involved in the first team at all this season and Granada hope to re-sign him on loan, per AS (in Spanish).
Close Without Major Sales
Objective No. 1 for Atletico Madrid must be to keep in place the squad that Diego Simeone has built, especially the first team. Throughout the summer there have inevitably been rumours around some players, but the spine of the team—Jan Oblak, Diego Godin, Koke, Antoine Griezmann—must remain in place at all costs.
They are powerful, technically sound, with years ahead of them—and each embody the mix of work rate with quality that Simeone demands and Atleti have built their success on. Keep the first XI and the next seven or eight who contribute without the level of quality dropping, and Atletico are very close to having a title-winning capable side.
Any late surprise movement inwards may, of course, necessitate a departure of someone, but Simeone seems happy with the balance of his squad and rightly so. They have played the summer transfer window to perfection, now they just need to see it out making minor alterations to have confidence of a very successful campaign.
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