The Daily Rojiblanco: November 13, 2017

Happy Monday, Atléticos. With club football taking a backseat during the international break and the January transfer window fast approaching, it is perhaps unsurprising that transfer rumors have dominated the news ticker this weekend. There is a ton to sift through so I’m going to break them down into Incoming and Outgoing Rumors.

• Incoming Rumors

Ander Herrera. ASsay that the Manchester United midfielder has become a top priority for Diego Simeone in the coming transfer window. The player is out of contract this summer but the report suggests that United manager Jose Mourinho is keen to resign him, so a winter transfer may be unlikely. If he does not renew it may be wise to wait and take him for free in the summer.

Dries Mertens. Napoli striker Dries Mertens is also on Atlético Madrid’s radar, in part due to growing uncertainty with Yannick Carrasco. Like Carrasco, Mertens can offer creativity up top or on the wing and has developed into a proven and prolific goal scorer in Serie A, netting 60 in 144 appearances for the Partenopei. A report from AS does not offer much in the way of specifics beyond noting that Mertens in under contract through 2020 with Napoli.

Mezut Özil. A report from the Express suggests the German is interested in joining Atlético on two conditions. First, they need to secure a Champions League place next season, and second, they need to hang on to Antoine Griezmann (see below).

• Outgoing Rumors

Antoine Griezmann. While the Frenchman’s unrest is nothing new, quotes from club president Enrique Cerezo indicate his departure may not be as imminent as suspected. In an interview with Marca, Cerezo brushed off recent speculation about the player’s departure, reiterating that the club has worked hard to keep him up to this point and intimating that he will remain with the club.

Still, Cerezo is haedly the last word when it comes to arrivals and departures, and Griezmann’s wandering eye was on full display again this weekend as he suggested a move to Paris Saint-Germain would be exciting. We can thus add the French club to the long list of the striker’s rumored suitors.

Diego Simeone. In the same interview with Marca, Cerezo also indicated that manager Diego Simeone is “untouchable”. Recent whisperings have suggested that he may be on the hot seat or primed for a move to one of a handful of rumored Premier League clubs. Cerezo unequivocally put those rumors to bed, at least for the time being.

Fernando Torres. Though the rumors of Torres’ desire to depart Atleti are not new, Southampton and Newcastle United can be added to the list of possible destinations according to English reports. Torres has also been linked with a move to Major League Soccer or the Chinese Super League.

• That’s it for now. If you have thoughts about any of these potential moves let us know below!