Atlético de Madrid have been looking for a replacement for Mario Hermoso since the start of the transfer market. The Spanish centre-back, who was a very important player last season, decided not to renew and become a free agent. Simeone needs a left-footer for his five-man defence, but it is something that is becoming complicated for the sporting management.
The most popular player since July is Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko . The 26-year-old Slovakian has performed well in both the Eredivisie and the European Championship and is ready to make the move to a big club. However, his club are asking for a very high transfer fee as they have no financial needs.
This has led Atlético de Madrid to look for another, cheaper option on the market. Simeone values players' familiarity with LaLiga and has set his sights on a centre-back from another team in the Spanish capital.
An option for Simeone
According to Patricia Cazón in AS, Atlético de Madrid are considering the name of Omar Alderete for their defence. The 27-year-old centre-back performed at a high level last season at Getafe, something that did not go unnoticed by the red-and-white club. Despite having a contract until 2028, he is a signing that would not be expensive for Gil Marín.
Simeone needs a left-footed centre-back to complete a squad that can dream of lifting trophies next season. The Paraguayan stands out for his power in close combat and his good long-range running. If there is no exit that leaves money in the red-and-white coffers, Alderete is an option that could materialise at the end of the transfer market.
He is not the favorite
Although Alderete's name is on the table, he is by no means the favourite at Atlético de Madrid. The most popular option is David Hancko, but Feyenoord are asking for around 40 million euros for him. Unless there is a good financial solution, it seems impossible for the red-and-whites to pay that amount.
The other player who has been wanted for a long time, but whose price is prohibitive, is Piero Hincapié. The Bayer Leverkusen centre-back is a target for Simeone, but he is even more expensive than Hancko. The current German champions are asking around 55 million euros for him, money that Atlético Madrid do not have at the moment.