Finally, there may be some good news for Samuel Sanchez who has been desperately looking for a new team for the past few months. According to El Pais, the former Olympic champion has signed a contract with a WorldTour team, with the deal set to be announced in January.

For a long time, Samuel Sanchez has appeared to be one of the big losers on the very difficult transfer market that has been created by the demises of no less than five professional teams. Despite finishing in the top 10 in the recent Vuelta a Espana and winning a stage in the Criterium du Dauphiné in June, the Olympic champion has been unable to find a new home for the coming season.

His situation was complicated by the negotiations between F1 driver Fernando Alonso and Euskaltel that promoted to put his search temporarily on hold. When those talks broke down, he still had a two-year contract with Euskaltel and so had to reach a deal with his employer before he could sign a new contract.

Most WordTour teams have by now finalized their rosters and so Sanchez has mostly been linked to pro continental teams. The Belgian Wanty team has done nothing to hide that they would like to have Sanchez on their roster, with the former Vuelta runner-up likely to open a door to a grand tour. Colombia has made it clear that they would like Sanchez to spearhead their team in 2014.

There have been no real rumours linking Sanchez to a team at the highest level but it now seems that Sanchez will indeed continue in the top division. Spanish paper El Pais reports that several sources have indicated that he has signed a contract with a WorldTour team.

The deal will be announced in January but the identity of the team was not revealed. Astana has said that their roster is finalized despite the decision not to sign Franco Pellizotti as was originally planned. However, Movistar may have an open spot after yesterday's announcement that Alejandro Marque will not join the team, the Spaniard having failed a doping test at the Volta a Portugal.

Sanchez has made it clear that he is keen to continue his career but wants to do so at a high level.