Saul Niguez transfer would give Thomas Tuchel the one thing his Chelsea squad doesn’t have
A loan deal for Chelsea’s Saul Niguez has been presented to the club by Atletico Madrid for the 2021/22 season.
As Saul Niguez said in the summer of 2017, “I’m extremely delighted because at Atletico we are a family.” “There isn’t a better place to be right now.”
The words were sincere and from the heart. They had some significance. Despite this, Saul’s activities continued to be considerably more audible. Despite the fact that he was being pursued by a number of teams throughout Europe, the then 22-year-old chose to extend his contract with Atletico Madrid for an extended period of time.
That being said, this was not your typical five-year contract. It was a far more significant commitment than that. Saul has committed to staying at Atletico until the end of the season in 2026. For the following nine years of his professional life, he would be a fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano.
“Saul is a role model for all of the kids in our program,” Jose Luis Perez Caminero, the club’s former athletic director, told reporters. “This is a model of generosity, collaboration, being alone on the field, and outstanding quality.
A versatile player with excellent aerial strength and an incredible long-range shot, he is also a tireless worker and a young player with plenty of experience… In light of his talent and the fact that there are no boundaries to his development, we should be pleased with the arrangement we struck.
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Saul remained a key member of the Atletico Madrid squad for the next three seasons, albeit in a less defined role. Depending on the situation, the Spain international would play everywhere from wing-back to left-back, left midfield to right midfield, as a six or an eight, and even farther forward on rare occasions.
A versatile player with excellent aerial strength and an incredible long-range shot, he is also a tireless worker and a young player with plenty of experience… In light of his talent and the fact that there are no boundaries to his development, we should be pleased with the arrangement we struck.
Saul remained a key member of the Atletico Madrid squad for the next three seasons, albeit in a less defined role. Depending on the situation, the Spain international would play everywhere from wing-back to left-back, left midfield to right midfield, as a six or an eight, and even farther forward on rare occasions.
The fact that he can play as a fullback, right-winger, and midfielder makes him extremely valuable to Atletico Madrid. He provides us with a plethora of alternatives so that we may rely on him. When he plays in that version and in the manner in which the coach requires him to, he performs exceptionally.”
It was at this time that Simeone was presented with the chance to put an end to the rumors about Saul’s whereabouts. Barcelona and Liverpool were both rumored to be interested in making a transfer. Manchester United has also shown an interest in the player for some time. The Argentine coach, on the other hand, was noncommittal.
“If he needs to go, [I’ll] give him a huge embrace and wish him the best of luck with the lads who gave us life, and we’ll continue to be friends as we always have,” he explained. “It might be to Barcelona or somewhere else.”
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Is it possible that Chelsea is somewhere else? The Blues are in desperate need of a fourth central midfielder, and an approach for Saul to join them on loan is not completely out of the realms of possibility.
The obvious question is why would Atletico Madrid allow Saul to leave, especially given the fact that Chelsea is under no obligation to make the transfer permanent. There are a number of factors to take into consideration.
The first is self-explanatory: Saul is dissatisfied. He has been utilized as a left-wing-back in Atleti’s first two games, and while he has done well in the position, it is apparent that he does not want to remain in that position. The fact that he is one of the club’s biggest earners despite the fact that he is not a definite starter is another plus.
When you factor in the fact that a season of playing minutes at center midfielder has the potential to jumpstart his career and, in the process, boost his worth enormously, a one-year exit from Real Madrid may not be entirely out of the question.
The move to Chelsea would be a significant test for Saul. He would be considered the club’s fourth-choice central midfielder, after N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, and Mateo Kovacic, based on his position on the pitch. And that triumphant is not simple to break, as Billy Gilmour learned throughout his tenure as a member of the band.
Saul, on the other hand, would provide something the Blues really need: cover for Kante.
The Spaniard excels in the majority of areas of the game. Last season, he averaged 4.16 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes in La Liga, a statistic that was lower than that of Kante and Jorginho in the Premier League. He also attempted a comparable amount of pressure per 90 minutes as the Chelsea midfielders, but with a lower success rate.
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Despite Atletico’s more reactive approach to games, his 1.55 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes were lower than that of Kante, Jorginho, and Kovacic, but this will be somewhat impacted by Atletico’s more reactive approach to games. It’s also why he makes fewer passes (52 per 90 minutes) than the other three.
It is Saul’s intellect, both in terms of position and in terms of possession, that would be showcased in Chelsea’s system; he would surely be a good alternative for Tuchel to turn to when Kante requires a break from the side.
Saul has allegedly been given a contract by Manchester United, but it is unclear whether it would be enough to entice him to stay in the Premier League.
Saul has been a member of the Atletico Madrid team since he was 14 years old. With the exception of a loan period at Elche, the club has been his sole home throughout his professional career, and Simeone’s system has been the only one in which he has thrived.
Saul would be embarking on an adventure into the unknown if he were to abandon his “family.” Chelsea would be taking a risk by signing him, even on a temporary basis. Nonetheless, it is one that the club may think is worthwhile. They have less than a week to make a decision.
