Atlético Madrid are hoping that the ownership situation at Chelsea could see midfielder Saúl stay at Stamford Bridge next season.
The Spaniard is currently on loan with the Blues until the end of the season, having joined in the summer in a surprise deal.
He’s not been able to fit in under Thomas Tuchel, though, managing just eight appearances in the Premier League and no goals or assists.
It had seemed certain that he would be shipped back to Atlético at the end of the season, but that has now changed duo the ownership situation at the club.
With Roman Abramovich looking to sell and new owners yet to arrive, despite offers, Chelsea remain in a sort of limbo, especially when it comes to transfers.
That ‘benefits the continuity’ of Saúl at the club as the Blues may be forced to keep him should their transfer embargo continue say Super Deporte.
Chelsea have a €35m option to buy the player, and while ‘logically’ it seems they won’t activate that, the ‘peculiar’ situation in terms of the ownership could encourage them to look for a different deal to keep Saúl as they may not be able to reinforce how they’d like in the summer.
Atlético are even considering the option of accepting a second loan for the midfielder if that would allow them to keep Saúl off the books.
They would save €7m in tax by doing so, a figure that would greatly aid their own transfer hopes but change them drastically if they had to bring him back.
They, then, are keeping a close eye on the situation at Chelsea and hoping it could force Saúl into staying for another year, even if that looks impossible based on his performances this year.
