Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone admits he a new midfield signing.

Simeone feels his squad is short of a defensive midfielder.

The coach said: "We need a means to share that spot with Koke and give that position more competition. The season is long, the characteristics of those we have around Koke are not pure midfielders.

"(Geoffrey) Kondogbia left, we interpret (Axel) Witsel more as a centre back although he can act as a midfielder, but we believe that we will compete better with the arrival of another midfielder that gives us hierarchy, personality, play and internal competition.

Asked about Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, he added: "There are names with which the club works to favor the need-obligation situation. The club will decide."