Manchester City are among the Premier League clubs closely monitoring Alex Baena, with fresh reporting from Caught Offside indicating that the Atletico Madrid winger has emerged as a serious name in the market.
Baena has made a fast start to the campaign, “scoring three goals in his first three games”, and that form has naturally drawn attention. City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all “understood to be eyeing up Atletico Madrid’s in-form winger Alex Baena”, with interest developing as clubs assess opportunities before the next transfer windows.
Manchester City interest in Baena grows
From a City perspective, the logic is easy to follow. The report states that “City are big admirers” and notes they “are open to doing some business to strengthen their attack after losing some depth in that department over the summer.” That context matters. Squad planning at the Etihad is rarely reactive, and when a player is viewed as capable of making an immediate difference, groundwork tends to begin early.
One source is quoted as saying, “Baena is seen as an exciting market opportunity.” The same source added, “Clubs could establish contacts ahead of January, even if a deal would be more likely for next summer.” That feels significant. It points towards exploratory conversations rather than anything advanced, with timing likely to be one of the biggest barriers.
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Atletico Madrid stance makes January difficult
Any move for Baena would be far from straightforward. Atletico “have no plans to sell Baena”, and the expectation is that they will be tough negotiators. The report adds that “Atletico Madrid will dig their heels over Alex Baena”, which aligns with their broader stance in the market and their determination to retain core players.
Given Baena’s importance to Diego Simeone and his current form level, a mid-season deal looks challenging. The piece makes clear that “a January deal seems even more ambitious”, so…
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