Atletico Madrid seem keen to revitalise the spine of their team this summer, with Robin Le Normand already coming in, and three more signings in the works at centre-back, central midfield and up front. The addition in the middle that is closest is Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
Fabrizio Romano has told Caught Offside that Chelsea and Atletico are close to an agreement for Gallagher between €35m and €40m, and that the decisive factor will now be the player himself. Atleti are trying to persuade Gallagher to make the jump to La Liga, and his call will be the difference between whether the move happens or not.
💣🚨 BREAKING: Atlético Madrid has begun talks with the representatives of Clément Lenglet and FC Barcelona.
Lenglet wants to join Atleti.
[🥇: @Santi_J_FM & @HanifBerkane] pic.twitter.com/0qGv0eH2d8
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) July 31, 2024
Atletico already have plenty of depth in midfield, but Gallagher would add a mocuh more imposing character in the middle of the pitch, with Koke Resurreccion and Rodrigo de Paul perhaps lacking some of the bite when asked to do it three times a week for ninety minutes.