Caglar Soyuncu ‘to sign pre-contract agreement to join Atletico Madrid’

Caglar Soyuncu is reportedly on the verge of signing a pre-contract agreement to join Atletico Madrid this summer after falling out of favour at Leicester.

The Turkey international joined the Foxes for £20million in 2018 and took to life brilliantly initially in England, though has seen his career tail off in recent seasons amid a series of errors and concerns over his suitability to the Premier League.

According to The Athletic, Soyuncu, 26, is set to join the Spanish club this summer after agreeing a pre-contract agreement.

Atletico Madrid are currently third in LaLiga, behind Real Madrid and league leaders Barcelona, and have enjoyed a significant uptick in their fortunes since the World Cup.

Soyuncu will thus join a club set to once again be in the Champions League next season as boss Diego Simeone looks to build another side that will challenge the might of Spain’s traditional big two. 

The Turkey international is expected to join Atletico Madrid at the end of the season

Diego Simeone’s side sit third in LaLiga and are set to again qualify for Champions League

Having fallen out of favour at Leicester, it is a move that might surprise some connected to the club, particularly considering the fact he cannot get minutes despite the nature of the club’s defensive efforts at the end of Brendan Rodgers’ years.

However, Soyuncu has played the full 90 minutes in both of Dean Smith’s games in charge, including the crucial come-from-behind win against Wolves on Saturday.

The 2-1 victory hauled Leicester out of the relegation zone and, albeit perhaps briefly, stopped the rot at a club which had begun to look doomed.

‘It means nothing, we need to keep climbing out of there and separate ourselves as much as we can,’ Smith said afterwards.

‘We will enjoy this moment and how it feels to win a game after a while and get ready for Tuesday and Leeds.

Leicester’s survival this season is of paramount importance with financial uncertainty abound

‘It’s a massive win, one we’ve needed. It shows an awful lot of character to come from a goal down and a mistake which led to a goal. Mentally it will give all the players a lift.

‘I think there’s relief because of the run we’ve been on. I’ve just addressed them in the dressing room and said, ‘enjoy it but don’t get too high because we’ve got another big game on Tuesday’ and recovery is the most important thing for them now.’

Soyuncu is one of eight players whose contract is set to expire this summer, with Leicester mired in a financial crisis that could have even wider implications should they get relegated.

Youri Tielemans, Tete, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy, Jonny Evans, Ryan Bertrand and Ayoze Perez – currently on loan to Real Betis – are the other players who are set to depart this summer on free transfers.