Lucas Hernandez transfer: Bayern Munich interest in Atletico Madrid defender shouldn’t be a surprise

Lucas Hernandez transfer: Bayern Munich interest in Atletico Madrid defender shouldn’t be a surprise
News that Bayern Munich could pay the 80million buyout clause for Atltico Madrids World Cup-winning defender Lucas Hernndez has highlighted the Spanish sides weakened position due to salary limitations, which leave them exposed in the winter transfer market.It is the transfer bombshell in Spain, delivered before the window had even opened. On December 19, Marca revealed Bayern were preparing to provide the cash for Lucas Hernndez to pay his buyout clause, allowing them to sign the 22-year-old, who is having his most consistent season yet at Atltico Madrid where he is proving to be a key piece in a key season.6

Having won the World Cup with France, Hernandez, above right, is having his most consistent season with Atletico Madrid

Few, if any, saw it coming. After winning the European Super Cup by defeating arch rivals Real Madrid (Lucas played 120 minutes in the win), Atleti have pushed on and are still in the three major competitions they are competing for this season. Through to the Round of 16 in the Copa del Rey, they are only three points behind Barcelona in La Liga with a match against the Catalans still to play. And though being drawn against Juventus in the Champions League is not ideal, their managers excellent track record against Italian opposition (Diego Simeone is unbeaten against Serie A sides as Atleti boss) provides cause for optimism that they can move a step closer towards the final, which will this year be held at their home ground.6

Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano will host the 2019 Champions League final

Growing in importance, Lucas can expect to play in the majority of games in that three-pronged push for silverware, having already done so to date. Last year he played three Champions League matches before Atleti were unexpectedly eliminated in the group stage. This year he has already made five appearances, and only missed the final group game through injury. In La Liga, after 17 games, the Frenchman has made the same number of appearances as at the same stage in the 2017/18 season, but only because he has missed four matchdays through injury and suspension. If not, he would undoubtedly have played more.6

Lucas Hernandez is going to be vital to Atleti’s pursuit of silverware

The defender is among Atletis eight most-used outfield players of the 2018/19 season in terms of minutes, and has started the vast majority of games in his preferred centre-back position, as opposed to left-back where he largely filled in during previous years. The club has long considered him to be the prime candidate to partner Jos Mara Gimnez at the heart of the defence in the post-Diego Godn era, and Lucas is now being given the chance to show he can do that job on a weekly basis. That a winter move to Bayern would be about progression on the pitch is not exactly clear-cut therefore. What it would mean, though, is a significant pay rise (the Bundesliga club would reportedly double his salary). During the summer Atleti tied the player down to a new deal that extended his stay at the Metropolitano until 2024, but only a few weeks later the France international went on to win the World Cup as a starting player, increasing his potential to earn. Due to La Liga salary limiting regulations, Atltico are unable to offer him a pay rise under present conditions, their player wages currently accounting for around 70 percent of their 2018/19 budget.6

Bayerns chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admits the fact there is a release clause in Hernandez’s contract is an advantage

Atletis inability to budge, combined with the players increasing profile and an 80million buyout clause that is very much accessible for European superclubs like Bayern gives them diminished power with which to negotiate. Emotional arguments may be of little use, too. Lucas is an Atltico academy graduate who has risen from the youth ranks to a regular first team position, with the potential to become one of their new heroes starting this year. His brother Theo didnt let sentiment get in the way, though, when he rejected several offers for a new deal from Atleti and joined Real Madrid in 2017. The siblings share the same agent.6

Real Madrid signed Theo Hernandez in 2017 and he ended his first season as a Champions League winner

Their only hope is that Bayern back off, at least until the summer, encouraged by the good relationship between the two clubs. Whether the Bundesliga side choose to strike now or in June could have a huge impact on Atlticos season: a recurring spate of muscular injuries that has decimated their squad means that without Lucas, their chances of winning trophies are far slimmer.6

Lucas Hernandez celebrates with the Super Cup after Atletico Madrid beat rivals Real

That would also be the case in the Champions League of course, where Bayern could yet lock horns with the Spaniards in a competition that is particularly important for both of them this season. Atleti eliminated the Bavarians the last time they met in a knockout tie, so just how charitable are Bayern really feeling? Even if they are, with Atltico ultimately relying on changing the players mind and convincing him to sit tight until the summer for an improved contract, whos to say Bayern will be the only buyers to appear?

---

Dec 02, 2018 · Uefa confirms new European club competition will begin in 2021 the 32-team competition will start at the beginning of the new Uefa cycle, which runs from 2021-2024. then earn a place in
UEFA confirms new Europa League 2 club competition to start

---

Premier League live goal updates: Leicester, Everton, Huddersfield and Newcastle claim midweek wins All the latest from tonight's four top-flight fixtures By Marc Williams
Premier League live - Everton, Newcastle United and Leicester

---

Jay Rodriguez bundled home a stoppage-time equaliser as West Brom snatched a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at the Hawthorns, however, the ball struck his hand en route to goal. Two goals from Anwar El Ghazi looked set to see the visitors join the Baggies in the Championship play-off spots, but Rodriguez helped the ball […]
West Brom 2-2 Aston Villa: Dubious Jay Rodriguez goal denies
hollywoodadviser.com/west-brom-2-2-aston-villa-dubious-jay-rodriguez-goal-denies-villans-win-at-the-death/
Jay Rodriguez bundled home a stoppage-time equaliser as West Brom snatched a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at the Hawthorns, however, the ball struck his hand en route to goal.
Dubious Jay Rodriguez goal denies Villans win at the death

---

Eden Hazard's omission from the PFA Team of the Year has come as a surprise to many, including Chelsea - and that is evident from their latest social media post.. The west London club have bemoaned the Belgian's omission from the squad with a detailed article examining his superb performances this term.
~ How the PFA Team of the Year should have looked according

---

Leicester City 3-0 Arsenal: 10-man Gunners lose again as top four hopes fade further by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 28 Apr Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top four took another dent as they were beaten 3-0 by Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The Gunners had to play 55 minutes w…
Arsenal - LineNews.in

---

Victories against Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City saw Stoke avoid the threat of relegation and they finished the 2012-13 Premier League season in 13th position. It was a season of little progress at Stoke, and Pulis left the club on 21 May 2013 after a meeting with club chairman Peter Coates.

---

Daniel Levy has used his final programme notes of the season to insist that Tottenham reaching the Champions League Final is not just down to manager Mauricio Pochettino. And the Spurs chairman
NewsNow: Mauricio Pochettino news | Breaking News 24/7

---

Liverpool vs Barcelona: Confirmed teams for Champions League semi-final with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino ruled out Jurgen Klopp will be praying for a miracle at Anfield tonight By Sean O'Brien
Liverpool vs. Barcelona: Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino to

---

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane makes Paul Pogba a 'priority' - with Eden Hazard is set to sign, according to leading French journlaist ; Messi: «Mi hijo Mateo celebra los goles del Madrid para calentar a su hermano»
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane prefers Paul Pogba to

---

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo charged by FA after being sent off in victory over Leicester City Written by: fpnews Posted on: January 22, 2019 Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after he was sent off during his side's match with Leicester City.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo charged with misconduct by FA

---

The awkward moment when defenders see Messi running towards them takes the game of Boggies too far at Mass when someone says "you're welcome and you say "you too"
News - Page 172 - sharpeze.com

---

Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Tottenham (agg: 0-4): Champions League last 16 - as it happened by Barry Glendenning 3 months ago Spurs survived a first half onslaught before crushing Dortmund's hopes with a Harry Kane strike early in the second

---

Sport > Football > International Euro 2016: England didn't use the wrong formation, Roy Hodgson used the wrong tactics, says Danny Higginbotham. INSIDE FOOTBALL: Hodgson had Harry Kane and Jamie
Premier League winners and losers - Football365

---

Celtic news: Roberto Martinez's agent plays down rumour he will become the new manager Friday, 12 April 2019 Roberto Martinez's agent has poured cold water on rumours linking the Spaniard to the Celtic job.
Celtic news: Roberto Martinez's agent plays down rumour he

---

Every Premier League club's best value signing this season. Another Premier League season is almost complete and when it is all said and done, the inevitable period of reflection will occur
Every Premier League club's worst value for money signing

---