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Atletico Transfer Ban Throws Plans Wide Open

Atletico Madrid have been rocked by the news that their transfer ban has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the decision by CAS means that they will not be able to register any new signing during this new current transfer window.

A decision which has thrown the transfer plans of Diego Simeone into disarray this Summer. One signing that was set to be lined up was that of Alexander Lacazette from Lyon but that will have to be put on the back burner as the French international is not prepared to sit on the sidelines until January.

A move for the forward was all but complete as Atletico planned their transfer business on the assumption that the ban would be lifted, in fairness it would be stupid for them not to cover that eventually and therefore they would have but Lacazette top of their shopping list.

But with the decision going against them it means that all pending moves will have to more than likely be shelved unless a player is prepared to move to the Spanish capital and not see any on pitch minutes until the start of next year.

The lack of players joining the club could however spell good news in regards to keeping Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid. With a lockdown in regards to new faces it means they are going to be loathed to lose what superstar players they already have on their books.

That means the likelihood of Griezmann staying at Atletico has now been greatly increased, there are perhaps two variables in which the former Real Sociedad player leaves the club. Firstly the player could say that he is not prepared to continue playing for the club and secondly someone could pay the buyout clause in his contract.

In regards to the second point it was believed that Manchester United would be the ones to pay the £87m (100m euro) fee required to facilitate a potential move to Old Trafford but they are now believed to have cooled their interest due a change in transfer plans.

That does not mean that other clubs will not be trying to prize Griezmann away from what will now be the newly built Wanda Stadium but the balance of probabilities points to the 26 year old staying under the continued tutelage of Diego Simeone next season.

The upholding of the transfer ban will be an almighty blow to Atletico’s hopes of once again getting back among the La Liga title race. After an impressive three seasons where they have really mixed it up with Barcelona and Real Madrid, of course not forgetting they won the title back in 2014 but this season they finished 15 points adrift from their cross town rivals.

That means with no opportunity to freshen up a first team squad which is arguably already approaching the end of it is cycle you get the feeling that just managing to finish in the Champions League places will be deem something of a success.

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