Premier League newcomers Fulham have signed Luciano Vietto on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Fulham have absolutely aced the transfer window. On paper, Andre Schurlle, Alfie Mawson, Sergio Rico, Jean Michel Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are all players who should vastly improve their starting XI, with the latter duo potentially forming a midfield partnership of Champions League quality.
Luciano Vietto, however, could be Fulham’s most intriguing signing of the summer.
The Argentine striker joins on loan from Atletico Madrid after scoring nine league goals in his last 59 appearances for Diego Simoene’s side, including loan spells at Sevilla and Valencia. So Fulham fans would be wise to reserve judgement.
But, while Vietto flopped quite badly at Atletico after his £18 million move in 2015, it must be remembered that he was an absolute revelation at Villarreal.
In his debut season in Spanish football, Vietto scored 20 goals in all competitions for the Yellow Submarine and was labelled the new Sergio Aguero as a result.
Back in February 2014, in the midst of that prolific campaign in bright yellow, the Express reported that Liverpool were planning a move and it seemed they were not the only European giant interested.
“We know that many top clubs are following Vietto,” said his agent, Jorge Cysterpiller. “There is a lot of competition to sign him. Liverpool we know like him and so do Real Madrid.”
Aguero has scored 143 goals in 206 Premier League games for Manchester City and is surely now a genuine legend of the competition. So, regardless of Vietto’s three seasons of struggle, comparisons with one of the greatest goal-scorers around should have Fulham fans hopeful that they have pulled off another coup.
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