When assessing the second club from the Spanish capital, it is hard to be too critical given how they have punched above their weight for a decade under the stewardship of Diego Simeone.
Yes, in recent seasons they have not had the all-round quality of some of their predecessors, but it hasn’t stopped them from holding their own at the top table.
After winning La Liga in 2021, their title defence was all but over by Christmas – seven days before to be precise.
And despite their best efforts, defensively and in some of football’s dark arts, their European adventure was ended by Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Yet they produced enough La Liga 2022 highlights and know-how to seal third place and a return to the Champions League next season with plenty to spare.
Assessing the SBOTOP La Liga 2022 betting odds for next season and you can see Los Rojiblancos are third-favourites, well ahead of the chasing pack, which suggests they are going nowhere.
So, what do they need transfer-wise ahead of next season?
Well not a new goalkeeper, that’s for sure.
Jan Oblak has retained his brilliance, despite saying farewell to defensive teammates such as Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez and Juanfran Torres in recent years, talents who have not truly been replaced.
Hope springs eternal, though. Reinildo Mandava has impressed since his January arrival from Lille and will surely be better for three and a half months of La Liga under his belt going into next season.
Likewise, left-back Renan Lodi and Geoffrey Kondogbia saw their value increase last term and should be regulars in Simeone’s first-choice starting XI.
Overall, though, the Argentine boss will know his team needs strengthening in most positions, especially given farewells have now been said to midfielder Hector Herrera and veteran striker Luis Suarez who was unable to replicate his first season with the club after leaving Barcelona.
One player strongly linked with a move to Atletico is Hector Bellerin who has just had a season-long loan at Real Betis and the Verdiblancos have now registered their interest in bringing him back to the club on a permanent deal.
Bellerin’s future at Arsenal appears uncertain and Simeone has earmarked right back as a key area in need of strengthening following the sale of Kieran Trippier to Newcastle in January.
Betis remain as Bellerin’s first-choice option, but Arsenal’s demands for a €20 million fee – despite his Gunners contract expiring in 2023 – could give Atletico a key advantage in the race for the 27-year-old defender.
Once Trippier left in January, they seemed to lose some shape which makes the position a priority. One of the more exciting names amongst the numerous amounts that have been linked is RC Lens’ Jonathan Clauss. Now a French international, Clauss confirmed that he was talking to Atletico at the beginning of the month.
Elsewhere, Pablo Sarabia may be on his way back to Spain and Atletico have previously been linked with the wide-man, who enjoyed a fine season for Sporting Lisbon where he was on loan from Paris St Germain.
Perhaps more pertinently, he has become a crucial part of Luis Enrique’s Spain squad in the last two years. Renowned for his crosses, he has also contributed nine goals in his 22 international appearances so would surely fit Simeone’s requirements.
Further forward, with Edinson Cavani needing regular football – and to stay fit – to ensure he is part of Uruguay’s World Cup squad, Atletico could do a lot worse than sign the veteran striker on a short-term deal. He would certainly be an ideal stop-gap replacement for his South American compatriot, Suarez.
Talking of veterans, Angel Di Maria has been rumoured with a return to Spain with Barcelona or Atletico, although whether they would want a former Real Madrid man – someone who secured the man of the match award against them in the 2014 Champions League Final – is unclear.
Among other names reportedly linked with a move to the Metropolitano Stadium are Spurs full-back Emerson Royal, Pablo Maffeo of Mallorca, RB Leipzig star Nordi Mukiele and Udinese defender Nahuel Molina.
We wait and see.
Whatever the incomings, Atletico do need to make sure they keep hold of their main names, including Yannick Carrasco. Carrasco is said to have a £51.5 million release clause in his contract with rumours suggesting a number of clubs from the English Premier League are interested.
The Belgian international has been an important member of Simeone’s squad after coming back from the Chinese team, Dalian FC in 2020.
It’s unlikely he will be allowed to leave but, either way, we will know more once the manager recalls the majority of his squad for training from July 13, ahead of four warm up games.
There’s plenty of work to be done.
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