Atletico Madrid have confirmed their desire to bring in a right-back amid links with Celtic’s Josip Juranovic, Aston Villa’s Matty Cash and Tottenham Hotspur’s man Emerson Royal, president Enrique Cerezo tells AS.
It is six months since Kieran Trippier swapped the Wanda Metropolitano for nouveau-riche Newcastle United. And, in truth, the England international is yet to be adequately replaced in the Spanish capital.
The versatile Marcos Llorente is a box-to-box midfielder by trade, while Sime Vrsaljko looks set to join Greek giants Olympiakos when his contract expires on July 1.
And, while Dortmund enforcer Axel Witsel appears to be on the verge of becoming Atletico’s first signing of the summer, newcomer number two is highly likely to be a right-sided defender – provided Cerezo and co can find a way to raise funds first.
“Well, we already have the midfielder. It’s Witsel, which as you all know is practically done,” explains the Atleti president. “And we’re looking for (a reinforcement on the right) flank.
“As far as I know, we need a midfielder and a right back and we already have the midfielder.”
Emerson Royal, Josip Juranovic and Matty Cash are Atletico Madrid targets
Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will not let Juranovic go without a fight of course. According to The Times, the Croatia international, who became an immediate fans’ favourite at Parkhead thanks to his all-action style and natural-born leadership skills, is valued at £15 million.
Juranovic has four years left on his contract too. And according to the Daily Record, he is in no mood to force through a departure after just 12 months in Glasgow.
Emerson, in contrast, feels distinctly more attainable. Especially with Tottenham looking to bring in Djed Spence from Middlesbrough. According to TMW, talks between Emerson and Atletico are underway, with Diego Simeone’s side planning a loan-to-buy bid for a former Real Betis and Barcelona man who has been on Atletico’s radar for some time.
Cerezo admits that Atletico will ‘need to sell’ before they can spend big on any new signings, however. An initial loan deal for Emerson, then, could suit Los Colchoneros down to the ground.
“I think that, in order to sign, we need to sell,” Cerezo says. “It’s 40 million euros that we have to raise, and that’s where we are. The market is not easy. It is very difficult. And the economic situation… you already know how it is.”
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