Atletico Madrid are reportedly seriously interested in Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash and are weighing up a summer swoop to bring him to the club.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid are considering signing Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash in the summer transfer window. The Rojiblancos started direct contact over a potential move to sign Cash in January, but a deal could not be done. However, Atletico are expected to reignite their interest in the summer.
The reigning La Liga champions recently bid farewell to Kieran Trippier following his move to Newcastle United last month. The Englishman was their first-choice right-back, and his departure has left a gaping hole in that position at the Wanda Metropolitano, particularly while the versatile Marcos Llorente continues to struggle with injuries.
With Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone keen to find a long-term replacement for the England international, they realigned their radar to the Premier League to find a solution and quickly identified Aston Villa’s Matty Cash as their prime target.
However, they faced a swift rejection from Villa. With the Colchoneros desperate for a short-term fix, they turned their attention to veteran star Daniel Wass, who can play as both a midfielder and a full-back. They subsequently signed the 32-year-old Danish international from Valencia to fill the void at right-back.
Despite signing Wass, Atletico Madrid are still interested in signing the former Nottingham Forest defender. They intend to return with a fresh proposal for Cash to prise him away from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window since they hold a strong interest in him and he remains high on Diego Simeone’s wish list.
Cash first burst onto the scene as a midfielder with the Championship outfit Nottingham Forest. He has thrived since being shifted to right-back by then-Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi at the start of the 2019/20 campaign. His impressive displays in that position ultimately earned him his top-flight move. In total, he scored 13 goals and claimed 15 assists after 141 appearances in the second tier.
The 24-year-old joined Aston Villa in the summer of 2020 and instantly became a fan favourite at Villa Park with his energetic performances, cementing his place as the starting right-back from last season. He has become a crucial figure for the Midlands outfit and has clocked up a total of 51 appearances, chipping in with one goal and three assists in the process.
So far this season, the Polish defender has featured in the starting eleven in each of his side’s 21 Premier League games. Cash is said to be in no rush to leave Villa as he remains settled and committed to the new era under head coach Steven Gerrard.
The Poland international is under contract with the Villans until 2025. That puts Villa in a really strong negotiation position. Even though Gerrard would not want to lose one of his key assets, if the full-back wishes to follow in the footsteps of Trippier, it will be interesting to see how much the club will demand from Atletico Madrid.