Atletico Madrid currently have only two senior strikers on their books: Julián Álvarez, whose own future has dominated headlines all summer, and Sorloth, who could yet be gone by Tuesday's 11.59pm deadline.
Manchester United have shown interest in the Norwegian, but it is Juventus who want him most - head coach Luciano Spalletti has had his name marked since early summer.
The situation cuts both ways. Simeone is equally keen to bring back Nico González, on loan at Atlético last season and, in the manager's eyes, a natural fit for the club's identity: relentless work off the ball, collective sacrifice and a refusal to hide.
The obstacle is price - Juventus set González's buy-option at €28m when he was loaned out last summer, a figure Atlético are unwilling to meet, and while Italian reports floated a straight swap involving Sorloth, the two deals have never actually been linked. Complicating matters further, González produced a man-of-the-match display with a goal in Juventus's season-opening win over Parma, strengthening Spalletti's desire to keep hold of him.
A third name has entered the equation: Canada international Jonathan David, top of sporting director Mateu Alemany's shortlist and, coincidentally, also on Juventus's books. His departure could unlock the whole situation.
Should Sorloth leave - the Norwegian, with 44 goals in 105 appearances for the club, has consistently prioritised regular starts over squad status, something he has never fully secured at the Metropolitano - Atlético would move to bring in two forwards before the deadline. The same applies if Álvarez's saga finally resolves with an exit. Should neither departure materialise, only one new arrival is expected.
The layers of the negotiation reflect just how many pieces are moving simultaneously between the two clubs. Ricky Massara, Juventus's sporting director, faces the added complication of needing to move on David before completing any deal, given the club's limited financial flexibility this window, while Atlético's hierarchy continue to weigh whether resolving Álvarez's future takes priority over the forward-line reshuffle already unfolding around Sorloth.