Atletico Madrid's Champions League Run Will Bring Transfer Bids for Saul, Oblak

The circle of success in past seasons for Atletico Madrid has seen them make key players out of former unproductive or unknown starlets, sell them for huge money and reinvest to continue making the team stronger under manager Diego Simeone's blueprint.

Continuing success with silverware and an ability to challenge both domestically and in Europe is testament to the club's ability to identify replacements and upgrades when they sell players, but it also means that most of Europe comes calling every summer. Top clubs know that Atletico's players not only have technique and tactical understanding, but also a great work ethic, making them highly desirable.

A prominent run in the UEFA Champions League this season, beating Barcelona over two legs and Bayern Munich 1-0 in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday night, will lead to further acknowledgement of their stars' talents and will again mean Atleti have to fend off interest in their brightest and best youngsters. This summer, however, they could well keep their players in place and resist the need to sell.

Saul

An absolute standout in the team since November, Saul Niguez has played in every Champions League game this season for Atleti and has now made himself an undroppable part of Simeone's midfield thanks to his versatility and power as much as his skill and hard work.

A goal from the very top drawer by Saul was the only one of the game against Bayern, an effort that combined his appreciation for space, quick acceleration and great footwork—as well as the eye for a shot that makes him Atleti's third-highest scorer this season, with nine.

It was interesting (or amusing) to hear the English-broadcast commentary immediately following the goal, as BT referred live to Saul's being tracked by both Manchester United and Arsenal, as if this were a previously undiscovered gem that had suddenly flourished and shone when all were present to witness it.

Saul has totalled over 3,000 minutes this season despite not starting the year in Atleti's first XI, has scored against Benfica and Athletic Club this season and netted an outrageous bicycle kick against Real Madrid in the derby last year. Not to mention clocking up two assists against Barcelona this term, in league and Europe.

Assumption of moving to an English club being a "better" move is nothing new, but will he choose between a team who won't be in the Champions League next year and another who have won barely anything of note for a decade, over a team he's a current starter at that is still in with a shout of winning a Liga and European double?

Probably not.

Oblak

It shouldn't be surprising that Atletico have a recent history of excellent goalkeepers, with two big names on their coaching staff: German Burgos, the angry, bull-like assistant of Simeone and a former Liga goalkeeper, and Argentinian goalkeeping coach Pablo Vercellone, who has been at the likes of River Plate and San Lorenzo previously.

The list of 'keepers who have passed through the Vicente Calderon of late is impressive: David De Gea, Sergio Asenjo, Joel Robles, Iago Herrerin, Thibaut Courtois, now Jan Oblak.

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It's right to say that the current incumbent, like those before him, has a fantastic foundation protecting him in Diego Godin and his partner (currently Josema Gimenez, previously Miranda), but Slovenian international Oblak is a magnificent goalkeeper in his own right. Playing against Bayern without Godin in front of him perhaps highlights that: a couple of impressive saves from Arturo Vidal and Medhi Benatia, but more importantly a simple presence and composure about his game, consistent and concentrated.

He rarely makes a mistake, is dominant in the air and has excellent agility.

Europe's top clubs who require a new goalkeeper have long had eyes cast at Atletico Madrid under Simeone, but this is the first season where Oblak has been first choice in both Liga and Europe. It's unlikely he'll feel as though he needs to move on again quickly any time soon, and at 23, he is now also inheriting the gloves on the international stage from Samir Handanovic.

Some stability at club level will no doubt be a positive aspect for him.

Gimenez and Others

There are more—there are always more. Saul and Oblak are the two who will perhaps shoot to greatest prominence now who weren't already in the wider football world's consciousness, but some young talents will again have boosted their reputations too.

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Gimenez continues to lead the defence with maturity and aggression in the absence of senior mentor Godin, while Koke's final-third-of-the-season form has been fantastic. There are always the goals of Antoine Griezmann to admire, and should he make it back to full fitness in time for the second leg, the pace and attacking abilities of Yannick Carrasco will also make him a sure-fire success in the transfer rumours circle.

Clubs will watch, clubs will rue passing up the players Atletico pounced on, and clubs will inevitably come the way of Los Rojiblancos to offer big cheques in order to part with their stars.

But this summer? This time it could be much more about continuing to build than stripping away more than one key component of the present side. Atletico won't need to sell, and very few of their biggest young stars could find a better landing ground than the club they're already at.

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