Sevilla set to pip Barcelona to Vietto signing

Spanish media outlet, Diario de Sevilla, via Andrew Gaffney, are reporting this evening that Atletico’s Luciano Vietto is on the verge of joining Sevilla. Vietto has been linked with a move away from the Vicente Calderon for the majority of the summer, and it seems as if his first season in the red and white of Atleti will be his only campaign with los Rojiblancos.

The report claims that a €3m loan move has been agreed upon for the year ahead, with Sevilla holding the option to make the deal permanent for €20m should they wish to purchase Vietto at the end of the season. For Atletico, it opens up a further spot in the forward line for a new striker. The club have spent the whole of the transfer window in search of a quality attacker, with Sevilla’s Kevin Gameiro the latest in a long list of names to be linked with a move to the Champions League finalists.

The decision to bring in Vietto could be seen as an acceptance of sorts from the Sevilla hierarchy that a move away for Gameiro is imminent. Barcelona, who were thought to be the front runners to snap up Vietto, have been mentioned as possible suitors of Gameiro in recent days, and a failed run at Vietto could lead to them following up their interest in the Sevilla striker.

Having signed from Villarreal last summer for a fee of €20m, the expectation surrounding Vietto may have gotten too heavy for the Argentine. Despite scoring 12 goals during the 2014/2015 campaign, Vietto struggled mightily to make an impression for Atleti, contributing with a lone league goal for the season. However, it was also the lack of work rate and improvement in his performances that ultimately led to his downfall.

Surrounded by under performers such as Jackson Martinez and Fernando Torres, for the first half of the year, Vietto failed to capitalise on any opportunity which came his way to separate himself from his fellow attackers. Diego Simeone doesn’t often give any player too many chances to show him they deserve a first team place, and Vietto was treated no different. Now he has a chance to redeem himself at a club who may be without their number one striker.