Newcastle United have reportedly identified Atletico Madrid centre-back Mario Hermoso as a possible defensive reinforcement this summer.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Newcastle United are the front-runners amongst the Premier League clubs in the race to sign Spanish defender Mario Hermoso, who has been put up for sale by Atletico Madrid.
Having joined Atletico Madrid in a €25 million deal from Espanyol in July 2019, Hermoso now finds himself down the pecking order at the Wanda Metropolitano after spending the last two seasons as a mainstay at the back. To date, the 27-year-old has made 95 appearances for the Spanish giants, chipping in with four goals and two assists along the way.
This past season, the Spanish international made 34 appearances for the Colchoneros across all competitions, which seems a respectable tally at first glance. But considering he mostly featured in a utility left-back role until the arrival of Reinildo and made only two starts in Atleti’s last 18 La Liga games, it speaks volumes of his dwindling stature at the club.
It seems that, despite having two years left on his contract with the Rojiblancos, the Spanish international’s time at the Wanda Metropolitano could be coming to an end this summer. Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to offload Hermoro for around €25 million.
There is a financial crisis brewing at the Wanda Metropolitano and, for the second straight summer, Atletico Madrid are cash-strapped as they first need to get players off their wage bill before bringing in fresh faces as they look to balance the state of play after spending heavily in the past years.
The Rojiblancos have already extended Felipe’s stay by another year. And with Stefan Savic and Jose Gimenez deemed as the starting central defensive pairing, Hermoso is likely to play second fiddle and could be viewed as a surplus commodity.
The 27-year-old has no shortage of suitors either, with interest from all across the continent. Fellow La Liga club Sevilla, for one, are actively looking for centre-backs after Diego Carlos’s recent move to Aston Villa, while Jules Kounde is also expected to depart this summer.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on the Atletico Madrid centre-back as a potential alternative for Lille’s Sven Botman. The Magpies are expected to bolster their backline ahead of the new season and are thought to be keen on signing a left-footed centre-back to their ranks.
But while Newcastle United have been chasing for Botman’s signature since the start of 2022, they still are nowhere near close to announcing a deal. With the Magpies ready to walk away from the long-dragging saga, Hermoso could be a solution. While the Spanish international has fallen out of favour recently, he still possesses the qualities; after all, he did play a key part in Atleti’s title success in the 2020/21 season.
Regarded as an impressive ball-playing defender, Hermoso stands out with his ball progression, progressive passes, and creative metrics. Available for a reasonable fee of around €25 million, Newcastle could take advantage by making their move and having an absolute steal under the noses of top clubs.