Atletico Madrid (MAD) are facing challenges in their efforts to strengthen their midfield, according to a new report from As. The team is currently setting its sights on two players, Merino and Gallagher, but both are facing a difficult deal.
Firstly, regarding the transfer of Merino, Atletico will need to face stiff competition from Arsenal. After the imminent completion of the transfer of Carafiore, Arsenal is expected to put all their energy into the pursuit of Merino. In addition, Merino himself has expressed his willingness to take time to think about his future direction, which makes the transfer negotiations more complicated. At the same time, Real Sociedad's asking price for Merino is as high as 60 million euros, which undoubtedly gives Atletico Madrid's transfer program added huge economic pressure. Barcelona is also paying close attention to the movement of Merino, which makes the transfer market more competitive.
On the other hand, Gallagher's transfer has failed to progress smoothly. Atletico Madrid previously made an offer of 20 million euros to Chelsea, but was rejected by Chelsea. Chelsea's valuation of Gallagher is at least 40 million euros, which makes the two sides have a big difference in the transfer fee. Despite Gallagher's limited appearances in Chelsea, his performance on the field is still widely recognized, so Chelsea is not willing to easily let go of this young and talented midfielder.
For Atletico, if they can successfully sell Felix to Aston Villa, then the team will have more money and possibilities to complete the said transfer. However, considering the complexity and uncertainty of the current transfer market, Atletico still faces a huge challenge to successfully strengthen their midfield.
