Chelsea are considering a late loan spell for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez during the final week of this summer’s transfer window.
The Blues have signed Romelu Lukaku and full-back Marcus Bettinelli so far this summer and remain hopeful of landing Sevilla midfielder Jules Kounde. But an approach for Saul at this late stage of the summer may be the ultimate in opportunistic recruitment.
Saul made his decision to leave Atletico last season after falling out of favor when the club won La Liga. At one point it seemed possible that he could join Barcelona in an agreement with Antoine Griezmann on his way back to Madrid, but the contact was drawn to that proposal.
Atletico’s attempts to move on with the 26-year-old have seen them offer their services to Premier League clubs on loan. Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked with Saul before now, although no one has ever shown enough interest in making a permanent deal.
The latest update from the Daily Telegraph indicates that Chelsea are considering taking Atletico on the loan option. Despite the interest in Declan Rice, it is said that the Blues are not looking for a new midfielder as soon as possible but are open to making a strategy for Saul because he is available.
As it stands, the future of both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ethan Ampadu is in the air, while Chelsea would like to find new clubs for Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko. The latter trio has not even been assigned squad numbers this season.
Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are Thomas Tuchel’s current primary central midfield options, after letting Billy Gilmour go to Norwich on loan. Saul can increase the depth in that area of the plane, otherwise there may be more need for Loftus-Cheek to stay.
Saul can increase Chelsea’s depth in midfield / Denis Doyle / Getty Images
Saul played for Atletico in the Champions League final in 2016 and the following summer signed a new nine-year contract until 2026. Things have disappeared, but despite Atletico offering him, the Spanish international has actually played 90 minutes in each of the club’s first two La League games.
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