Atlético Madrid close to signing Villarreal striker

Atlético Madrid is close to signing striker Alexander Sørloth from Villarreal in a bid to replace Morata. This comes after they announced the signing of Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand on Saturday, just before their preseason win over Numancia. 

After failing to secure Girona forward Artem Dovbyk due to personal terms issues, Atlético turned to Sørloth as their next option to replace Álvaro Morata.

Negotiations with Villarreal are progressing well, and an agreement is expected soon. Sørloth, who scored 23 goals last season, has a €38 million release clause, but Atlético hopes to finalize the deal for slightly less, with bonuses making up the difference. Personal terms with Sørloth are not expected to be a problem.

Sørloth has a history of performing well against Atlético, scoring four goals in seven matches against them. If the deal goes through, he would be the first Norwegian to play for Atlético and become one of their most expensive signings.

Sørloth started his career at Rosenborg, following in the footsteps of his father Gøran. He has played for 10 clubs across eight countries, including Gent, Crystal Palace, Trabzonspor, and RB Leipzig.

However, his goal tally in La Liga has steadily been improving each season. Last year, he scored 23 goals and was a contender for the Pichichi trophy until an injury in the final game.

Despite his impressive 6’5″ height and smooth left-footed striking ability, Alexander Sørloth’s career has been somewhat inconsistent, making him comparable to Norway’s version of Álvaro Morata. 

This signing carries some risk for Atlético Madrid, as they need a dependable starting center-forward after selling Morata to AC Milan earlier this month. Sørloth has not always been consistent in his performances, which raises concerns about whether he can meet Atlético’s needs.

Currently, Antoine Griezmann and Ángel Correa are the center forwards for Atlético Madrid, with Samu Omorodion and Carlos Martin less likely to remain in Diego Simeone’s squad. Atlético is hopeful of finalizing a deal for Alexander Sørloth despite competition from other clubs, such as West Ham United in the English Premier League.

According to a source close to the player, Sørloth is interested in leaving Villarreal and is tempted by the prospect of either moving to the Premier League or playing under Simeone at Atlético.