It’s no secret that Atletico Madrid are eyeing up a new midfielder, following the departure of Saul Niguez. Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is their leading target at the moment, but he’s not the only player on their list.
Having discarded Mikel Merino as a target, with the Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder seemingly set for a move to Arsenal, Atleti have begun to consider other options. According to Süddeutsche Zeitung (via MD), one of those is Leon Goretzka, whose future at Bayern Munich is very uncertain following the arrival of Joan Palhinha in Bavaria.
🚨🇩🇪 JUST IN – Pending Confirmation: Leon Goretzka is being considered by Atlético Madrid and Napoli.
[@SZ via @iMiaSanMia] pic.twitter.com/cPRQCp85WZ
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) July 29, 2024
Goretzka would likely be cheaper than Gallagher, but his wages would be a concern. He earns between €16-18m per season at Bayern, so he’d need to take a significant wage cut in order to make the move to the Metropolitano, should it become a serious option in the next few weeks.
Goretzka could be a good addition for Atletico Madrid, especially if a low-cost deal could be agreed with Bayern. For now, it’s a possibility that looks more unlikely.
