Diego Simeone wants Giovani Lo Celso to enhance Atlético midfield

Atlético Madrid want to sign Giovani Lo Celso for next season, according to Argentine outlet TyC Sports.

The club wants to challenge for LaLiga next season, and are trying to build a squad so Diego Simeone to do that. Playmaking midfielder Lo Celso is seen as a player who can greatly increase their chances to compete, and the new report says Atlético will do everything in their power to acquire his services.

Lo Celso will leave Tottenham this summer as he is unwanted at the North London club. Reports initially suggested that he had been sold to Villarreal, which acquired him on a loan deal in January, but these reports were untrue.

Atlético remain closely linked to Valencia’s Carlos Soler, but no deal has been done yet. Soler’s contract expires next summer and Valencia are keen to move the player on for a fee rather than losing him for nothing. This obviously plays a role in Atlético’s negotiating strategy.

Lo Celso would cost somewhere north of €20 million and the player, who has never convinced Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, could even sign on an initial loan deal — which would greatly appeal to Atlético.

The 26-year-old moved to Villarreal last winter and helped turn their season from failure to success. They reached a Champions League semi-final thanks, in part, to Lo Celso’s magnificent displays against Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds.