At Atlético the time is running out to be able to reinforce

Atlético have less than a week ahead of them if they want to make one last 'summer' reinforcement. Thomas' departure from the club through the unilateral termination of his contract on the last day of the transfer market (on October 5), since Arsenal paid the 50 million of its clause, it offered the rojiblanco team an extra month to be able to register as compensation for the departure of the Ghanaian.

However, these options to sign in that extra period have very marked limits. Only LaLiga players or without a team and with economic conditions that would go through the possibility of investing 25% of what entered by Thomas (11.25 million, since five of the total were for Leganés). Thus, and after discarding the options of Campaign or Mikel Merino for the unaffordable price, Atlético focused on Geoffrey Kondogbia as a possible reinforcement for the pivot.

The French player welcomed the possibility of donning the red-and-white shirt, so much so that he has not trained with his teammates at Valencia since this opportunity appeared due to a sore heel. In addition, Kondogbia charged against its president on social networks broadcasting the message “after having destroyed an ambitious project, you had to deceive your coach and finally me. Thanks Anil Murthy“, since the club did not facilitate his departure to Atlético.

The data support the reinforcement of Kondogbia as the player most similar by characteristics to Thomas. A very physical footballer, with the ability to recover, a long shot and a successful pass. But the negotiations have not advanced in these three weeks at the expected pace. Atlético has not launched into his signing and Valencia does not want to lose one of its captains without being able to strengthen itself until January. Thus, the rojiblanco club has the option of making a last great final offer or waiting two months to have a more global market ahead, something that seems increasingly likely.

Saúl will return, but the team suffers at the pivot

Simeone has get Saul back in Russia at the latest (next Wednesday against Lokomotiv), since today he did not train with the group either and it does not seem that he will arrive on Saturday against Osasuna. But nevertheless, Matches like the Allianz Arena made it clear that the team is lacking in the middle without Thomas, the third player with the most minutes last season. Torreira has just arrived, you can see the inactivity of the past season with Arsenal and he still has to adapt to the rojiblanco scheme. Herrera has taken a step forward, but it is difficult for him to be the player who closes the center of the field, since he has always stood out with a pivot from behind. Thus he made an improper mistake that cost a goal against Salzburg when the game was controlled by Atlético. And Saúl has missed four games due to discomfort (360 minutes) when in all last season he had been absent only 276 minutes. The '8' is not comfortable at all as a pivot, with a lot of responsibility with the ball, something in which he stands out less and missing his arrival.

Thus, either Atlético go for Kondogbia in the remaining days or Simeone will have to deal with that weakness in midfield at least until January 1. The Argentine coach still does not close the door to an arrival in that position, not like on the right side where he has already said that he has Trippier and waits for Vrsajko (The option to sign for Thomas is not limited to a specific position). Last Monday before taking on Salzburg, Cholo said about the options of adding a midfielder that “that is already handled by Andrea (Berta) with Miguel Ángel (Gil). We have spoken several times with them and, in consideration of what serve for the team, or not to find someone to join“There is still time to add someone, but it seems more and more complicated.