Arsenal, Man City vying to ‘remove’ World Cup winner from Atletico in three-team transfer battle | OneFootball

Nahuel Molina is being linked with a move to Arsenal, Man City and Aston Villa.

Arsenal are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing Atletico Madrid full-back Nahuel Molina, according to reports in Spain.

Atletico paid €20million to sign Molina from Italian club Udinese in July 2022.

The 25-year-old has nine goal contributions in 44 matches for the Madrid outfit, scoring in his only La Liga appearance of the new season.

Molina is a versatile player and has been utilised in right-back, right-wing-back and right midfield under Diego Simeone.

He is also a World Cup winner having helped Argentina in Qatar last year, playing all seven matches, including 90 minutes in the final against France.

Having established himself as one of the best defenders in La Liga, Molina is attracting interest from the Premier League.

According to Ok Fichajes, Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all keen.

It is noted that there are no official offers on the table, but the Premier League trio are ‘not ruling out’ a bid for the Argentine international.

Atletico are very eager to tie Molina down to a new long-term contract. His current deal expires in 2027, but the Spanish club want to increase the player’s release clause.

Media reports suggest the current clause is worth between €30-70m, though it has also been reported that it is already as high as €90m.

Simeone’s side are understandably wary of the spending power in the Premier League, with their ‘economic strength enough to remove him from the club’.

Another Atletico player Aston Villa are said to be looking at is centre-back Mario Hermoso.

The same outlet says Hermoso ‘does not plan to renew’ his contract, which expires next summer.

Atletico have found it ‘impossible’ to agree fresh terms with the Spanish international after they offered him a reduced salary.

This has caught Unai Emery’s eye, with the ‘most attention’ coming from Villa.

There is some ‘speculation’ that the Villans have opened talks with Hermoso’s representatives and they even ‘considered’ making a bid this summer.

Amid the ‘negative’ relationship between Hermoso – who has played every minute in La Liga in 2023/24 – and Atletico, a January sale ‘could happen’.