Porto set to complete loan deal for Cristian Tello

The Spanish invasion of FC Porto is set to continue with the club hopeful of sealing a deal to bring Cristian Tello to the club on a season-long loan deal.

Though no official announcement has been made, Spanish newspaper Marca are reporting that the deal should be confirmed later this week.

Spanish influx

Should the deal be completed, Tello will join compatriots Julen Lopetegui, Adrian Lopez and Olivier Torres is moving to Estadio do Dragao.

Former Spanish youth coach Julen Lopetegui was appointed as manager of the Portuguese giants in May this year and has been quick to bring in a number of his countryman.

While Adrian has completed a permanent switch from Atletico Madrid, Torres moves to Porto on a loan deal from the reigning La Liga champions.

Marca have suggested Porto was Tello's destination of choice, and that's likely to have been influenced by the presence of his former Spain under 21 boss Lopetegui.

Often deals like the one which takes Tello to Porto include an option to make the move permanent, but Marca say no purchase option has been included in the deal.

 Tello a top young talent

Rival interest

Having initially broken in to the Barcelona first team during the 2011/2012 season, Tello struggled to have any real impact under Tata Martino last season.

The arrival of Neymar and the form of Alexis Sanchez limited his opportunities to join Lionel Messi in the Barcelona front line.

That lack of game time caused interest from a number of clubs who will be left disappointed should Tello complete his move to northern Portugal.

English Premier League sides Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham, as well as Seria A giants Inter Milan had all been linked with a move.

Everton were thought to be the favourites at one stage - their handling of another Barcelona starlet Gerard Deulofeu seemingly giving them an advantage in the race to sign Tello.

International hopes

The 2013/2014 campaign started well for Tello when he won his first senior cap for then world champions Spain in August.

The appearance capped a rise through the ranks of Spanish football with Tello having previously represented the national team at under 19, 20 and 21's levels.

Disappointingly he failed to add to his first cap but the temporary switch could help him force his way into Vicente del Bosque's plans.

Spain lost their world title in Brazil when they were humiliatingly dumped from the competition at the group stage, and that could see a number of new faces given the chance to oust some of the older generation.

Write for GiveMeSport! Sign-up to the GMS Writing Academy here: https://gms.to/1a2u3KU

Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms