According to the club's website the 28-year-old international, who is representing his country at the Copa America in Venezuela, would sign a four-year contract when he gets back from the tournament and after enduring the medical tests.

The Spanish media had reported a deal was close to being secured for a fee of about 21 million euros. The transfer comes to boost the speculations about a probable move for Atletico's leading scorer and star Fernando Torres to Liverpool.

Forlan had already a spell in the Premier League back in 2004 with Manchester United before moving to Villarreal where he won the Primera Liga top scorer in 2005 with 25 goals and netted a further 19 last season.