How have Atletico Madrid got on in the summer transfer window? Not bad, considering they are under a transfer embargo until January. Here’s a look at their dealings so far and an update on what to expect once their ban ends.
Net spend (estimated)
-€69 million.
Completed signings
Vitolo (Las Palmas, €36m).
Potential signings
Diego Costa (Chelsea).
Players missed out on
Fabinho (Monaco).
Potential January targets
Diego Costa (Chelsea), Fabinho (Monaco).
Players promoted to first-team squad
Axel Werner.
Completed sales
Theo Hernandez (Real Madrid, €30m), Oliver Torres (Porto, €20m), Matias Kranevitter (Zenit Saint Petersburg, €8m), Javier Manquillo (Newcastle, €5m), Amath Ndiaye (Getafe, €3m), Rafael Santos Borre (River Plate, €3m), Alessio Cerci (Hellas Verona, free transfer).
Potential sales
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, but he could cost the big-spending French club around €100m.
Players who can’t be moved out
Luciano Vietto.
Players due for contract renewal
Miguel Angel Moya, Juanfran Torres, Jose Maria Gimenez, Gabi and Fernando Torres all have deals that expire next summer. Oblak’s deal runs until 2021, but Atletico may be moved to give him a new deal soon if they want to keep him.
Areas of squad still with shortcomings
Coach Diego Simeone wants another powerful centre-forward — hence the continuing interest in having Diego Costa available from January. The team could also use a commanding physical presence in holding midfield.
Has this been a good transfer window for the club?
In some ways the FIFA-imposed transfer ban has worked to Atletico’s favour this summer, as it meant Antoine Griezmann remained at the club and signed a new contract.
Raising around €40m by selling unwanted squad members must also count as a positive. But there are no replacements yet for aging key players like Diego Godin, Gabi and Fernando Torres.
Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan