TRANSFER RUMOR: Atlanta United, Atalanta reach agreement for Aleksey Miranchuk

The Five Stripes appear close to finding their Almada replacement.

Silly season is in full swing and it appears as though Atlanta United are acting accordingly. Just a week after announcing the sale of Thiago Almada, the club appear close to finding his replacement.

Rumors began circulating this week, linking the Five Stripes to Atalanta midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk. On Thursday, those rumors became more concrete as reputable Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio reported that the two clubs have reached an agreement for the transfer.

It should be noted that if this report is true, the transfer is not completed. The player and Atlanta United still have to agree on personal terms and then Miranchuk would need to pass a medical for the deal to be wrapped up.

Miranchuk is a 28-year-old attacking midfielder born in Russia. He joined the Serie A club in 2020 from Lokomotiv Moscow on a transfer worth around $17 million.

During his five seasons in Italy, one of which he spent on loan with Torino, he’s amassed 13 goals and 18 assists in 100 appearances. Despite being more of a role player for Atalanta in his career, his goal contribution per minutes played is quite impressive. The hope for the Five Stripes is that he can maintain that record if given a starring role in MLS.

It’s still early days in the summer transfer season with many twists and turns to come. But we have our first legitimate incoming DP rumor of the window. Let’s see if it gets over the line now.