Tuesday 30 June 2015 17:46, UK
Espanyol have reached a preliminary agreement to sell Spanish winger Lucas Vazquez back to Real Madrid.
The 23-year-old left the Bernabeu 12 months ago to join Espanyol on a season-long loan, and the Barcelona-based club acted on an option to purchase Lucas at the end of the campaign.
But Real included a buy-back clause in the deal which they have now exercised.
"We have reached an agreement with Real Madrid for Lucas Vazquez," Espanyol president Joan Collet said to the Spanish media on Tuesday. "We will keep 25 per cent of his sporting rights.
"Real told us that they were counting on him (Vazquez) for the first team.
"Two or three weeks ago, we told Real Madrid that we would exercise the right of purchase, but Real Madrid have made us an offer.
"We believe the amount is good for our club considering that we could have lost him next year, too. We have spoken to our sporting director and we will seek other options."
Lucas, a youth product of Real, scored three goals in 33 league appearances for Espanyol in his debut season in La Liga.
Meanwhile, Real have already signed Brazil internationals Casemiro and Danilo from FC Porto this summer.
