Atletico Madrid will sign Sevilla winger Vitolo despite their transfer ban, according to both Marca and AS.
Chelsea were believed to be interested in the 27 year old but the player is believed to be committed to joining Atletico.
The Spanish newspapers report that the plan is to sign the Spanish international permanently in January, but to have the player play for Las Palmas for the first half of the season.
To get around their ban, Atletico will activate Vitolo’s €40million buyout clause, but will not sign the midfielder. Instead Sevilla will allow Vitolo to sign for Las Palmas on a free transfer, and he will then move to Atletico in January when the full transfer fee will be paid.
For their troubles Las Palmas will be given €5million by Atletico as the Canary Island team have a 12% sell on fee when Vitolo is sold. Las Palmas president Miguel Angel Ramírez was in Madrid yesterday to discuss the deal, and it seems that the transfer could be sealed within the next week.
Marca don’t expect Vitolo to join up with Sevilla before they head out to Japan on July 12th, and he may instead join up with his new Las Palmas team mates in Gran Canaria on July 13th.
