Las Palmas confirm part in Atletico Madrid’s deal for Vitolo

Las Palmas have confirmed they will take Sevilla forward Vitolo on loan for the first six months of the season if Atletico Madrid trigger his €40m (£35.1m) release clause.

Atletico have been heavily linked with a move for the Spain international since the end of last season but their pursuit has been made more complicated since they failed to overturn a FIFA-imposed transfer ban at the end of May.

Diego Simeone’s side are still expected to invest in new players this summer but must now convince any potential signings that they will either have to sit on the sidelines until January when Atletico can register new players or spend the first part of the season on loan elsewhere.

Vitolo came through the Las Palmas youth academy before joining Sevilla in 2013 and the Canary Island-based club have now confirmed the 27-year-old will return to the club if Atletico press ahead with a deal.

“Everyone knows that the president was in Madrid and concluded the negotiations which he took charge of directly,” Las Palmas sporting director Toni Cruz told a news conference.

“The president has told us, and authorised us to say, that he has reached an agreement with Miguel Angel Gil Marin so that if Atletico buy Vitolo, he will be here until January."

Vitolo is due back to pre-season training with Sevilla on July 12 but reports suggest a deal will be completed by then, as Chelsea, who were also linked with a move for the forward, appear to have missed out on another summer transfer target.

The Sevilla ace was deployed in a number of positions under Jorge Sampaoli last season but is best utilised in a wide left position. Since joining Sevilla he has provided at least eight more assists than any other teammate in La Liga (19).

For more stats on Vitolo, click here to visit his WhoScored player page