Atlético Madrid offer €25m plus Salvio for Porto striker Falcao
Atlético Madrid boss Gregorio Manzano is working overtime to sign a striker as the club prepares for the Europa League clash with Vitoria Guimares on August 18. With Diego Forlán having gone on holiday until August 15, giving him just three days to prepare to face the Portuguese side, Manzano has only one recognised frontman available in Spanish Under-21 international Adrián, and is urgently seeking to strengthen his attacking options with the league season also about to commence.
Brazilian youngster Diego Costa is already ruled out for six months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in training at the end of July and Manzano considers Salvio, who has returned to the club after a season-long loan at Benfica, as more of a winger than an out-and-out striker. Hence, the need for a target man is becoming more and more pressing and favourite to occupy the role is Porto´s Radamel Falcao.
The 25-year-old Colombian has been in sensational form since moving to the Estadio de Dragao from River Plate in July, 2009, scoring 41 goals in just 50 appearances, but negotiations would not be easy as Porto consider him among the top players in Europe. Even so, Atlético are said to have been in constant touch with his agent, Jorge Mendes, and are believed to have offered €25m plus Salvio - valued at €15m after a good season at the Stadium of Light - in an attempt to bring him to the Vicente Calderón.
However, Porto club President Pinto da Costa renewed Falcao´s contract during the summer and increased the buyout clause in it from €30m to €45m, a figure equal to the money Los Colchoneros received from Manchester City for the transfer of Sergio Aguero.
While the player and Atlético are thought to have agreed in principle to the move, the sticking point will be the size of fee demanded by Porto, although the Madrid club are convinced at least part of the Aguero cash will be sufficient to land a player nicknamed the “Colombian Tiger.”
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