Atletico Madrid and Matias Kranevitter Will Both Benefit from Loan to Sevilla

Atletico Madrid's summer transfer plans have so far largely revolved around incoming players and retaining their stars of last campaign, making good ground early on in the close season by adding full-back Sime Vrsaljko, Argentina international Nico Gaitan and now, per Marca, Portuguese winger Diogo Jota to their squad.

At the same time, forwards Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres have renewed their contracts to remain at the Vicente Calderon Stadium—but other players in Diego Simeone's squad will have to give way.

Jesus Gamez is expected to leave and is not involved in pre-season training as he orchestrates a move to Newcastle United, per Marca, while a more notable departure—if shorter term—will be that of Matias Kranevitter.

The Argentinian midfielder is set for a loan move to Sevilla, with sporting director Monchi confirming to Cadena Cope (h/t Marca) that the two clubs were negotiating and the deal was "very close" to completion.

Atletico confirmed that the season-long loan will be completed after Kranevitter returns to Spain and undertakes a medical with the Andalucian club.

A move to Sevilla will benefit Kranevitter enormously, certainly compared to staying at Atletico this season, but the club retain full confidence in his ability and they will also reap the benefits of a loan deal in the longer term.

Congestion charge

Atletico finished last season playing 4-3-3 more and more often in games, with Griezmann dropping wide from his forward's role and pushing one of the Atleti midfield quartet infield to form three in the centre.

Captain Gabi and homegrown duo Koke and Saul Niguez were most often the trio, with January signing Augusto Fernandez another alternative for the big games, packing the centre of the park with mobile, aggressive options.

Add in Thomas Partey, the returned-from-loan Bernard Mensah and veteran midfielder Tiago, who has also signed a one-year extension to remain until 2017, and chances would be thin on the ground for Kranevitter to force his way into the team. It's not for lack of talent, however.

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The midfielder was so key for former club River Plate that they wouldn't release him until after their FIFA Club World Cup participation in December, meaning he didn't join up with Atleti until the turn of the year.

It made working his way into the XI a difficult task, at the same time as adapting to La Liga, and with Simeone's side fighting for honours in both the league and Champions League, it made integrating a new face an unnecessary risk.

Marca had reported him as likely to be involved in Argentina's Olympic Games squad this summer, but after participating in the Copa America Centenario and the subsequent change of manager of the national team, Kranevitter was left off the eventual 18-man squad named by Julio Olarticoechea, per ESPN FC.

It means once he enjoys a post-Copa break, he'll be straight back into pre-season training at his new club—who also have a new manager.

Sampaoli and Sevilla

From being stilted and predictable last season under Unai Emery, Sevilla are quickly looking like one of the must-watch sides in La Liga next term.

Jorge Sampaoli's reputation—forged most recently and most prominently during his successful stint as Chile manager—comes from his all-action, aggressive attacking strategies and, of course, winning the 2015 Copa America.

Sevilla have reached finals and picked up trophies consistently in recent seasons, and he'll be expected to continue that run—especially after rejecting the chance to immediately leave and take charge of Argentina's national side, according to reports from Marca.

Last term, the Andalucian club won the Europa League, qualifying them for the Champions League in 2016-17, but there were problems nonetheless.

Emery's team failed to win on the road in La Liga even a single time, there was a lack of clear identity about their attacking play at times and, unusually for Monchi's success rate, some of their signings looked ill-thought-out; Ciro Immobile, Gael Kakuta and Marco Andreolli in particular.

A 4-2-3-1 was the absolute staple under Emery, but Sampaoli could conceivably change that.

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From Kranevitter's point of view, he will be confident about operating either at the base of three as a ball-playing, controlling holder who has space to exploit ahead of him, or in a double-pivot midfield as he did for Argentina this summer off the bench. At River Plate, he played in both systems: a flat 4-4-2 and a diamond, two or three in the centre.

Sampaoli's style—taking the lead from his time at Chile—will revolve around an ability to press aggressively and win back possession quickly, then be able to play out incisively through midfield.

Those from deep will have to contribute to buildup play and support from the second line, all of which should suit Kranevitter's style and aid his progression as an all-round midfielder.

2017-18

A year from now, it could all look very different at Atleti and for Kranevitter.

The onus will be on him to win a spot in Sevilla's side on merit, but should he impress in La Liga, he'll be well placed to slot straight into the Atleti side on a regular basis.

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Gabi remains a core part of the team, but he'll be 34 at the start of 2017-18 season, while Tiago will be 36 and out of contract. A continual regeneration of the Atletico side has been a theme of the Simeone years, and even the current iteration—so close to double glory last term—needs one or two new faces over the next couple of seasons to sustain progress and success.

If Saul and Koke continue to shine and continue to represent Los Rojiblancos, Kranevitter surely has a place behind them in the midfield arrangement to dictate play, create openings and protect the defence with his reading of the game.

The onus is on him to impress Sampaoli—and by extension, Simeone—but it's a move which makes tactical sense for Sevilla and offers plenty of longer-term benefits to both Atleti and Kranevitter.

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