The end of the winter transfer market is approaching and Atlético de Madrid, for the moment, hasn't closed any arrivals. From the club, they conveyed that there wouldn't be a large outlay, but Simeone had requested the arrival of a new piece. A midfielder, left-back, or center-back, those were the greatest needs of the Argentine coach.
Therefore, by scouting the market for players who can have a direct impact but whose cost isn't high, they found an interesting option. In England, a player who can play both as a left-back and as a midfielder was looking for a team due to his lack of minutes. This is the Ukrainian player from Arsenal, Zinchenko.
Atlético de Madrid accelerates for Zinchenko
According to the portal CaughtOffside, Atlético de Madrid is willing to make a financial effort to sign Zinchenko before February 1. The Ukrainian left-back isn't counted on by Arteta at Arsenal, where he has played only 13 matches throughout the season, eight of them in the Premier League. With a contract until 2026, the player has made the decision to seek an exit in search of more minutes and prominence.
The transfer price has been set at 20 million euros (22 million dollars), although Atlético is studying different formulas to close the operation. One option would be a direct signing, while another possibility being considered is a loan with a mandatory purchase option. The intention of all parties is to reach an agreement before the market closes.
Competition in the race for his signing
Atlético de Madrid isn't the only team that has shown interest in signing Zinchenko. Borussia Dortmund also considered his incorporation, but finally discarded the operation for economic reasons. The Germans were looking for a more affordable option that could perform as a center-back, something the Ukrainian doesn't perfectly fulfill.
Now, with Dortmund out of the equation, Atlético has a clear path to close the signing of Zinchenko, a player who can bring experience, technical quality, and versatility to the squad. If everything goes according to plan, the Ukrainian could become the first winter reinforcement for the "colchonero" team.