Atlético close to signing Barcelona. Depay to join the attack

Atlético Madrid have just lost striker Joao Félix to Chelsea on a six-month loan. Atlético is looking for a replacement in Barcelona, where Memphis Depay is expected to arrive.

It has lost two strikers and is trying to get at least one back. And it will be needed for Atlético Madrid to at least partially stave off a shaky season.

Not only did it fail to qualify for the knockout stages in the Champions League, the Colchoneros didn’t even finish third and won’t play European cups at all this spring.

But even in La Liga, Atleti are struggling immensely. After their last defeat, they dropped to fifth place, which guarantees only the Europa League. They are one point behind fourth-placed Betis and five points behind third-placed Real Sociedad. Real Madrid are 11 behind second place, so the Civítas Metropolitano are no longer in the running for the title.

They must at least try to secure a place in the top 4 and ideally win the Copa del Rey to get at least some trophy. And for that they will need to strengthen.

João Félix (Chelsea) and Matheus Cunha (Wolves) have left the attack. At the moment, the choices for the attack are Álvaro Morata, Ángel Correa and Antoine Griezmann. But Diego Simeone needs to expand his ranks

According to Spanish newspaper MARCA, Atlético are one step away from acquiring Memphis Depay from Barcelona. The transfer could be completed in the coming days.

The Dutch striker arrived at Barcelona last summer and became the driving force of the attack, scoring 12 goals in 28 La Liga games. However, with the summer arrival of Robert Lewandowski, he has dropped to the bottom of the hierarchy, it doesn’t help that Xavi certainly doesn’t like him.

He’s only started 2 games all season and in the last game against Atlético, even though Lewandowski was out due to a stoppage, he relied on Fati rather than the typical striker Depay.

This made it clear to the 28-year-old that he was unwanted at Camp Nou and there was no point in wasting the best years of his career on the bench any longer. With Depay’s contract expiring in the summer, Barcelona have one last chance to at least monetise him in some way.

Atlético have already brought in a washed-up striker from Barcelona once and it had a dream impact. Luis Suárez subsequently shot the Rojiblancos to the league title with 21 goals.

Source: MARCA