Vasco da Gama ‘advancing’ for Patrik Mercado as Spinelli aids talks | OneFootball

NTVASCAÍNOS reports that Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama have made strong progress to sign 22-year-old midfielder Patrik Mercado from Independiente del Valle after lodging official interest.

Striker Claudio Spinelli, the No 77 and a former team-mate from Mercado’s formative club, has acted as a direct intermediary to encourage the move.

Coritiba and Botafogo are also in the frame, and Coritiba hold contractual priority through a partnership with the Ecuadorian side. Independiente del Valle owner Michel Deller has been told the player wants to join Vasco da Gama.

Executives Admar Lopes and Carlos Amodeo are now working on a complex deal to acquire his economic rights outright, moving quickly in light of the player’s stance.

Born in Tena, Ecuador, Mercado emerged from Del Valle’s academy and won the Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana. He stood out in Brazil last season by scoring twice in a 4-0 win over Vasco.

A central midfielder who can operate deeper or as an advanced playmaker, he earned a first Ecuador call-up last year and has three caps. This season he has played 48 matches, starting 38, with seven goals and 11 assists in 3,172 minutes.

Source: PaponaColina