Chelsea and Man United target close to Atletico Madrid move

Atletico Madrid are nearing a deal to sign Chelsea and Manchester United target Ivan Rakitic, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

Both Premier League giants have been monitoring the Sevilla midfielder, who has already found the back of the net nine times in all competitions this season.

The Croatia international is set to enter the final 18 months of his contract at Sevilla and the club are keen to tie the 25-year-old to a new deal.

However, high-flying Atletico are confident of luring him to the Spanish capital with the offer of a three-year contract - and AS claim the Madrid side have already reached an agreement with him.

Rakitic, who was born in Switzerland, started out at Basel before spending four years at Schalke prior to his 2011 move to Sevilla.