Atletico Madrid must offload a reported West Ham United target before they can sign Lucas Torreira from Arsenal, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Torreira is said to be the next player due to arrive at the Estadio Metropolitano, after Luis Suarez.
But it is claimed that the Arsenal player cannot complete his loan-to-buy move until a new home is found for Hector Herrera – a player in whom West Ham have retained an interest and for whom they could move in the event of departures this summer, according to The Independent.
Herrera, who was also linked with Arsenal while playing for his previous club Porto, has been an Atletico player for less than 15 months.
But the 30-year-old started just 18 of his 30 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side and it would appear that he is set to be replaced by Torreira.
Plans for Herrera’s departure are said to be in part due to Atletico’s need to comply with a ‘salary limit’.
And a return to Porto is one potential solution outlined by Mundo Deportivo, although there is no mention from Spain of any West Ham interest.
Torreira also has interest from Torino and Fiorentina but is ‘crazy’ about wearing the red and white of Atleti, whose own midfielder Thomas Partey is wanted by Arsenal, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Whether the Uruguayan gets his dream move now, however, remains to be seen.
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