Atletico Madrid have now opened talks with Matty Cash over a potential summer transfer to La Liga, with the defender also keen to quit Aston Villa to join Diego Simeone’s side.
That’s according to The Sun, who report the Colchoneros consider Cash as one of their top summer targets. Simeone is adamant the Wanda Metropolitano outfit must sign a new full-back at the end of the season. They recently sold Kieran Trippier to Newcastle for £12m.
Atletico are prepared to wait until the off-season to replace Trippier if that means landing a top target. The Spanish capital side are also willing to pay between £30m and £40m to buy the Poland international. Yet their interest could spark a bidding war for the Villa dynamo.
Other clubs are also keen to sign Cash after his standout performances for Aston Villa since his £14m arrival. Former Villans boss Dean Smith acquired the right-back from Nottingham Forest in 2020 in deal that can rise to £16m. He is under contract in Birmingham until 2025.
But Cash is unlikely to see out his £65k-a-week terms as the Aston Villa defender is keen on a transfer to Atletico Madrid. The La Liga side may also make a late January swoop to avoid a summer bidding war. Trippier started 12 of his 15 outings over Atleti’s 21 league games.
Aston Villa will be loath to sanction Cash to Atletico Madrid transfer
Steven Gerrard and the Aston Villa hierarchy will surely be loath to grant Cash a transfer to Atletico Madrid. The two-cap full-back has started all 21 of their Premier League fixtures so far this season. He also opened all 28 of his outings upon moving to Birmingham last term.
Cash offered two assists in his debut top-flight campaign in claret-and-blue. He also scored a first goal for the Villa Park outfit with a rocket in their 3-0 win over Everton last September.
Trevor Sinclair also lauded Atletico Madrid transfer target Cash as an ‘exceptional’ star for Aston Villa last year. The 24-year-old impressed the former England ace considerably after delivering a Man of the Match display to help beat Arsenal.
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