Matt Doherty set to join Atletico Madrid from Tottenham on transfer deadline day

Doherty is set to join the Spanish side on loan.

Matt Doherty is on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports. Spurs are set to Spanish right-back Pedro Porro from Sporting Lisbon for £45m, a move that would push Doherty further down the pecking order in Antonio Conte's team. The Republic of Ireland defender now looks set for a switch on transfer deadline day and a spell in La Liga.

Matt Doherty set to join Atletico from Spurs on loan.

According to Sky Sports, Doherty will join Diego Simeone's team on loan until the end of the season. The deal does not include an option or obligation for Atletico to sign the player permanently at the end of the current campaign. The Dubliner has made 71 appearances for Tottenham since joining the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020. After a difficult spell under Jose Mourinho, Doherty was played in his more natural position as a wing-back when Antonio Conte become Spurs coach and showed some promising form last season. In a seven-game spell, he scored twice, registered three assists and appeared tailor-made for Conte's system. The Irish defender, however, was injured by Matty Cash during a 4-0 win against Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa last April and didn't play again for the rest of the campaign. Doherty, 31, has been unable to re-capture that form this season and has shared right wing-back duties with Emerson Royal. Conte, however, appears to want an upgrade on the pair. Spurs are about to sign Spain right-back Porro, 23, from Sporting, meaning Doherty will be free to leave the club on deadline day. The former Wolves wing-back, who is under contract at Spurs until 2024, will become the first Ireland senior international to play in La Liga since Steve Finnan, who played for Espanyol in the 2008/09 season. Atletico are currently in fourth place in La Liga, but were knocked out of European football before the World Cup. https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1620364426124599297

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