Atletico Madrid Closing In on Jonathan David Loan From Juventus, With Option to Buy

With just hours left before the transfer window closes, Atletico Madrid is holding a card almost nobody had penciled in: Jonathan David. The Canadian forward, currently at Juventus, is close to arriving at the Metropolitano on loan, with an option to buy attached. According to sources consulted by ESPN, the agreement between the two clubs isn't fully finalized, but there's optimism in both Madrid and Turin that the remaining details will be ironed out in the coming hours.

The structure being discussed is a loan in which the Rojiblancos would cover around 60% of the player's salary, along with a buy option designed with next season in mind. This has nothing to do, those same sources insist, with Julian Alvarez's future.

On Monday morning, a theory gained traction, fueled by sources close to Barcelona, suggesting the Canadian's arrival could be tied to a possible sale of Julian to the Catalan club. Atletico flatly denies this: Alvarez will not be heading to Barcelona. So what's left on the table for the Argentine? Basically Arsenal, though the same sources suggest that option isn't fully convincing the player. Manchester City's name also came up in recent days, but that too has been ruled out.

A Complement, Not a Replacement

David's profile, at 26 years old, is well liked in the Metropolitano offices. He isn't coming off his best season: at Juventus he scored just eight goals last year. But it's worth remembering where he came from: in his five years at Lille, in the French league, he scored 133 goals, staggering numbers that explain why Atletico's sporting management still trusts him despite the rough patch in Italy.

The idea isn't for him to replace anyone, but to compete. With Alexander Sorloth already established and Julian Alvarez looking, at this point, more likely to stay than to pack his bags, David would arrive as another option fighting for minutes, not as the new leader of the attack.

Interest in him, in fact, picked up after another option fell through: Mateu Alemany had been advancing a loan deal for Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, but Aston Villa stepped in and secured the former Villarreal player's full ownership rights. A return for Nicolas Gonzalez was also explored, but Juventus is holding firm on the buy clause agreed last season, so that route was ruled out.

Departures Also on the Agenda at the Metropolitano

While the Canadian's arrival is being finalized, work on the outgoing side hasn't stopped either. Jose Maria Gimenez will only leave if an offer comes in that satisfies the club, which hasn't happened so far. The situation is different for Obed Vargas, whose loan is drawing interest from half the league: Sevilla, Real Betis, Alaves, Getafe, Feyenoord and Valencia have all made inquiries in recent weeks. A decision is expected in the coming hours, with Alaves and Sevilla the best positioned.

Celta has asked about Thomas Lemar, though there's been no recent progress. And the future of academy product Carlos Martin still needs to be resolved, with several options on the table before the window closes.