Atlético eye next striker: one of France’s breakout stars | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid are already beginning to look beyond the current season and have a new name on their radar to strengthen the attack. The red-and-white side remain interested in Esteban Lepaul, a French striker who has made meteoric progress in recent years.

The search for a new ‘9’ was already on the table during the last transfer window. Antoine Griezmann’s departure and the uncertainty surrounding Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sorloth led the sporting department to assess different options.

In the end, the chosen player was Jonathan David, who arrived on loan with a purchase option that Atlético can trigger at the end of the season.

Lepaul reappears on Atlético’s radar

According to information from Ekrem Konur, Atlético continue to closely monitor Lepaul, a player who had already been linked with the club last summer.

The 26-year-old striker has enjoyed a striking rise. In just three and a half years, he went from playing in France’s third division to receiving a call-up from Zinedine Zidane to the senior France national team.

His development is also reflected in his numbers.

Last season he scored 20 goals in 35 matches, while this campaign he has already recorded three goals in six games.

His growth has made him one of the strikers to watch in French football.

A battle for his signing

Atlético would not be the only club interested in securing his services. PSG, Inter Milan and Benfica are also tracking the forward’s progress, so the competition could significantly drive up the price of the deal.

Lepaul is under contract until June 2030, a situation that puts his club in a strong position when it comes to negotiations.

According to the cited information, the French club would be willing to listen to offers starting at between €50 million and €60 million.

Jonathan David will have the final say

Interest in Lepaul will also depend on what happens with Jonathan David.

The Canadian has made a strong start to his time with Atlético and has already scored in the derby against Real Madrid. However, he arrived on a loan deal with a purchase option with no obligation to buy.

For that reason, Atlético are keeping different alternatives open for the future.

If David fully convinces the sporting department, the scenario could change. If not, Lepaul appears as one of the names the club is already keeping under watch with the summer of 2027 in mind.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.