Chelsea offered €65 million for midfield target

Atlético's new rise to relevance under Diego Simeone's guidance after successful campaigns at national and continental levels have catapulted some of their main players to new status. Some like Arda Turan and Diego Costa have already moved on to clubs with bigger payrolls, while others such as Antoine Griezmann and Koke have become some of the most sought-after players in Europe in the current transfer window.

And according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Chelsea and Bayern Munich -- among others -- were clubs in the chase after Koke this summer, even making a €65 million bid -- €5 million over his release clause -- to take the player off Vicente Calderón. Still, Atlético Madrid's heads convinced the Spanish midfielder that it was best for him to stay at the club -- and it apparently worked.

Koke is a talented and versatile midfielder, capable of playing across all midfield positions in Simeone's 4-4-2. Chelsea's interest on him shouldn't come as a surprise, but even more surprising is Atlético's capability of convincing the player to stay at the club this season despite the interest from bigger clubs and the potential gain in wages. Maybe we can have him in the next summer transfer window, like Diego Costa.