Atlético Madrid have been keen to sign a midfielder for some time now, and despite a summer of big spending, that hasn't worked out. After the failed Arthur Vermeeren experiment, manager Diego Simeone has asked for one of their former targets.
According to Relevo, Simeone has once again proposed the signing of Alan Varela. The 23-year-old moved to Porto from Boca Juniors in 2023 for €12 million and is El Cholo's preferred option for the position. Players such as Samu Costa and Luis Milla have been linked to Atletico, but they were options that outgoing sporting director Andrea Berta liked, as did Vermeeren.
Simeone currently uses Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo de Paul in the center of his midfield. With veteran Koke Resurreccion playing less, it's a position Simeone has clearly been thinking about for a while. Axel Witsel probably comes closest to the role Varela would theoretically play, but Simeone has made it clear he prefers the Belgian in defence.