Report: Atletico Madrid strike loan deal for Arsenal's Torreira

Atletico Madrid reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign midfielder Lucas Torreira on loan with an option to buy, according to The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano.

The deal will reportedly be completed once Atletico offload one of two players: Hector Herrera or Thomas Lemar.

Arsenal preferred to sell Torreira but ultimately accepted a loan deal that could become permanent at the end of the season.

Serie A sides Fiorentina and Torino were also believed to be interested in signing Torreira.

Atletico midfielder Thomas Partey has reportedly drawn interest from Arsenal but isn't expected to move. Los Rojiblancos have refused to negotiate a discount on the player's €50-million release clause.

Torreira, who joined Arsenal from Sampdoria in June 2018 for a reported €30 million, slipped down the pecking order after Mikel Arteta was hired as manager. Despite recovering from an ankle injury, the Uruguayan international missed the club's first three matches of the Premier League season.