Atletico Madrid to wait a year for Mario Hermoso

Atletico Madrid will wait until signing Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso until next summer when his contract expires, report Marca.

The Catalan club are holding out for the central defender’s €40m release clause and ‘the situation has become entrenched’, adds the reports.

It follows a report last month in Marca claiming ‘negotiations are advanced’ for the central defender who is set to follow Felipe Monteiro to Atleti, another defender who joined from FC Porto in a €20m deal.

However, Atleti now turn attention to other targets and hold off for a deal on the 23-year-old until next summer, when he will be a free agent.

Hermoso only joined the Catalan club in 2017 from Real Madrid in a €400k deal while he has a contract until 2020 with a €40m release clause in place.

Madrid possess a €15m buyback clause while they also are said to still own 50% of his rights, meaning they can sign him for half that price, but it does not appear they will continue their pursuit.

Hermoso has won two caps for the Spain national team within the last year while he impressed for Espanyol across 35 first-team appearances this campaign.

Bayern Munich and Arsenal are the other two clubs who have been directly mentioned in relation to the Madrid-native, with both said to be seeking defensive reinforcements.

Hermoso previously spent a season on loan at Real Valladolid in La Liga 123.

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