There is very little chance that Norwegian power forward Alexander Sørloth will be back for the league start for Atletico Madrid next Sunday at home against Villarreal. – But the signals from Wanda Metropolitano are that he will be back in full training before the summer window in the Premier League closes on September 1st.
Newcastle, who are undergoing major upheaval after heavy player sales and the appointment of a new manager in Matthias Jaissle, have once again put Alexander Sørloth on their summer lists.
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Sørloth, who has been a target for both Newcastle and Juventus, faded in popularity after a World Cup below expectation, including the famous missing pass of Erling Haaland, who had an “open goal”. Before the World Cup, Juventus had agreed on a personal deal with Alexander Sørloth, but after the World Cup when it was all about to be landed, the price for a transfer was too high.
There is talk that manager Luciano Spalletti wants a new round, but not if there is a bidding war against Newcastle. Atletico Madrid are set to keep Alexander Sørloth, but may be willing to listen to offers over 40 million euros.
Sørloth remains an important player at the Spanish club, but Atletico Madrid were reportedly open to selling him provided they received an appropriate fee. Juventus and Newcastle United are among the teams that have considered adding the striker to their squads, meaning there was still time for both clubs to pursue a deal before the transfer window closes.
Sørloth faces absence early in the season
However, the injury has now complicated his situation. As it stands, Sørloth is expected to stay at Atletico after suffering the setback. A report from Sporten said that the injury will sideline him for a few weeks, meaning he will miss the first few weeks of the season.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for the striker because clubs looking to strengthen their squads generally want new signings to be available immediately. Sørloth’s injury could therefore make it more difficult for Newcastle or Juventus to complete a move for him this summer.
For Sørloth, the setback could also affect his chances of securing a transfer before the season starts. Although both Newcastle and Juventus have considered signing him, his immediate availability will naturally be an important factor for any club considering whether to make a deal.
January may provide a new opportunity
If Sørloth stays in Spain, he could get another opportunity to leave in January. A lot can depend on how quickly he recovers from the injury and how well he performs during the first half of the season.
A strong return to form and a productive period at Atletico could revive interest in the Norwegian striker when the January transfer window opens. However, his priority now will be to recover properly from the muscle injury and get back into action as soon as possible.
At the moment, the setback has made his future uncertain. While Newcastle United and Juventus have still considered signing him, Sørloth is now expected to remain in Spain and his recovery is likely to determine what happens next.
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