Atlético Madrid have targeted a young La Liga centre-back to strengthen their defence. According to reports they are looking at 20-year-old Juanma Herzog.
Atlético Madrid Prepare Signing of Juanma Herzog
Squad Rejuvenation
Atlético Madrid, spearheaded by Carlos Bucero, are continuing their mission to sign highly-rated centre-back Herzog from UD Las Palmas. As Alfredo Matilda and Matteo Moretto report in Relevo, Los Colchoneros are “obsessed” with signing Herzog to “rejuvenate” the squad.
The signing of the 20-year-old would act as a replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta, who, as reported also by Moretto, will most likely move on from Atlético at the end of his contract next summer. Azpilicueta has suffered an injury that has kept him out since September 22nd, most likely provoked by the dependency placed on him to play so many minutes at his age.
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Herzog, who’s paternal grandfather is German, was born and raised in the Canary Islands and has come through the youth system at Las Palmas. Although he has played very little under new boss Diego Martínez, Herzog managed to score twice in three appearances at the back end of last season.
Atlético’s Bucero, who began his role as General Director of Football in February of this year, has been advised by close friend Predrag Mijatović to pursue Herzog. The two men worked together at city rivals Real Madrid and have been big players in the world of football administration in Spain for the last 20 years – Bucero, also an associate of Jorge Mendes. Mijatović has also planted the idea for Atlético to sign Petar Sucić of Dinamo Zagreb.
Atlético’s Defensive Issues: Analysis
Although they currently boast the best defensive record in La Liga, the obvious weak point of Atleti’s team is their back line. Having an ageing set of centre-backs has led to injuries that have forced others to play out of position and have had their pace deficiency exploited when they do play.
It has been their ability to withstand pressure in a low block that has enabled them to concede such few goals, as well as the heroics of the ever-brilliant Jan Oblak in goal. For Atleti to play more expansively and utilise the attacking talent further up the pitch, they need the back line to step up. However, when the average age of the centre-backs available is nearly 32, it leaves them vulnerable to being hit on the break.
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The injuries to Azpilicueta, Robin Le Normand, and (briefly) Josema Giménez have forced Diego Simeone to shuffle his defence around with the likes of Javi Galán and Nahuel Molina playing in the back three with the support of an extra wing-back outside of them for further cover.
This natural shift to defensive solidarity has had an impact further up the pitch, where the likes of Julián Álvarez and Antoine Griezmann are seeing less of the ball and not a lot of opportunity to create. In their win against RCD Mallorca last weekend, Atleti had just eight touches in the opposition box – the lowest by a winning team in La Liga.
