If you’ve been following the chaos at the Metropolitano lately, you know things are moving fast. Really fast. Honestly, it’s kinda rare to see Atletico Madrid this active in January, but Diego Simeone isn’t playing around. He’s basically spent the last week clearing out the locker room to make space for a specific type of "quality" he thinks the squad is missing.
Forget the usual rumors. The big Atletico Madrid transfer news right now isn’t just about who might come in, but the massive names already walking out the door. We’re talking about Conor Gallagher and Giacomo Raspadori—two guys who, on paper, should’ve been cornerstones of this project.
Instead, they’ve been sold off mid-season.
The January Exodus: Why Gallagher and Raspadori Left
It’s not every day a club sells a high-profile signing just six months after they arrived. Giacomo Raspadori joined from Napoli in August 2025 for around €22 million. Now? He’s already gone, headed back to Italy with Atalanta for a similar fee. It just didn't click.
Then you have the Conor Gallagher situation.
The Englishman was a fan favorite for his "garra"—that gritty, never-say-die attitude Simeone loves. But Tottenham came knocking with a €40 million-plus offer this month, and Atleti took the money. Why? Because Mateu Alemany, the club's new Director of Football, is looking at a bigger picture.
The club has cleared over €60 million in revenue in just the first two weeks of 2026. That’s a lot of liquidity.
The Lee Kang-in Obsession
If you’ve followed Atleti for more than a minute, you know they’ve been chasing Lee Kang-in since his Mallorca days. They wanted him in 2023, but PSG had deeper pockets. Now, the tide is turning.
Alemany was actually spotted in Paris last Friday. He wasn't there for the pastries; he was watching PSG beat Lille. Even though Lee didn't play in that specific match due to a minor injury, the signals are loud and clear. Atleti wants him to be the creative spark that replaces the output they expected from Raspadori.
Reports from Marca and AS suggest a €40 million bid is on the table.
Luis Enrique, the PSG boss, is reportedly trying to block it because he likes Lee’s versatility. But the player wants minutes. He knows that in Madrid, he’d likely be a guaranteed starter under Cholo.
Other Names on the Radar
While Lee is the "shiny object" everyone is looking at, he’s not the only target. Simeone has been vocal about wanting "quality over quantity." Here is what the shortlist looks like right now:
- João Gomes: The Wolves midfielder is a top priority for the "5" role. Atleti needs a defensive anchor to let guys like Pablo Barrios and Alex Baena (who arrived for a cool €42 million last summer) roam free.
- Matias Fernandez-Pardo: If the Lee Kang-in deal collapses, the club is looking at this Ligue 1 youngster as a backup.
- Marc Cucurella: Rumors persist that Atleti wants a more dynamic left-sided option, though this one feels like a "summer 2026" move rather than a January miracle.
Breaking Down the "Alemany Effect"
Since Mateu Alemany took over the sporting direction in late 2025, the transfer strategy has become much more cold-blooded.
In the past, Atleti would hold onto players too long. Not anymore. If you don't fit the system, you're out. The sales of Javi Galán to Osasuna and Rodrigo De Paul to Inter Miami (which brought in €15 million) prove that the club is aggressively lowering the average age of the squad.
They’re currently balancing the books while outspending both Real Madrid and Barcelona in net investment over the last few years. It’s a risky game.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
Simeone is 55 now. He’s been at the helm since 2011. You might think he’d get complacent, but this 2026 winter window shows he’s still hungry to reinvent the team. By shipping out Gallagher and Raspadori, he’s betting everything on a more technical, creative midfield.
The logic is simple: Atleti has the defense (with Robin Le Normand and David Hancko) and the strikers (Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth). What they lack is the "final pass" guy.
If they land Lee Kang-in before the February 2 deadline, they suddenly become the most dangerous team in La Liga for the second half of the season.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the Cash Flow: The club is sitting on a €62 million war chest after recent sales. They aren't done buying.
- The PSG Connection: Relations between the two clubs are actually good, which makes a deal for Lee Kang-in more likely than it would be with, say, a Premier League giant.
- The "Quality" Mantra: Expect one or two high-impact signings rather than four or five squad fillers.
The transfer window closes in a couple of weeks. If you see Lee Kang-in landing at Barajas Airport, you’ll know the plan worked.
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Actionable Insights for Following the Deadline:
- Monitor official announcements from Mateu Alemany or Diego Simeone’s press conferences, as they usually hint at "imminent news" 24 hours before a medical.
- Keep an eye on PSG's squad lists for upcoming Ligue 1 matches; if Lee Kang-in is left out again, the deal is likely in the final stages of documentation.
- Check the registration of João Gomes in the Premier League; any sudden benching often precedes a move to Spain.