According to several reports, MLS expansion club Atlanta United are set to land 21-year-old forward Hector Villalba from Argentine club San Lorenzo for a significant transfer fee.
Argentine newspaper Ole reported San Lorenzo, who are currently spending their preseason in Costa Rica, have received an offer of $2.5 million from Atlanta for Villalba, known as “Tito,’’ though other reports say the fee is $2 million.
Since Atlanta does not start play until 2017, the report claims that if the transaction is completed now, Villalba will be loaned back to San Lorenzo through December.
This is not the first time Villalba has reportedly been pursued by an MLS team. The Seattle Sounders have allegedly had interest in him in the past, along with clubs from Mexico and The Netherlands.
Villalba has spent his entire career with San Lorenzo, scoring 15 goals in 89 league appearances for El Ciclón, He also has extensive experience in the Copa Libertadores, and appeared in 13 of his team's 14 games as they won the 2014 Copa Libertadores, starting 11 of those and scoring one goal.
