Manchester City today expect to tie up a deal for Lazio full-back Aleksandar Kolarov, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.
The Serbia international has apparently already agreed personal terms with the Premier League outfit who got the better of Real Madrid.
Il Corriere dello Sport understands that City will pay Lazio €18m for Kolarov after talks in Claudio Lotito's offices in Villa San Sebastiano.
Kolarov represents a significant coup for City who are already blazing a trail through the transfer market with the signings of David Silva and Yaya Toure.
The Italian media now expects City to launch a bid for Inter's precocious 19-year-old striker Mario Balotelli.
The Italy Under-21 international didn't discourage reports of City's interest earlier this week, telling journalists of his admiration for Roberto Mancini who gave him his debut in Serie A.
(太陽報)阿仙奴快將簽下羅連安特守將高薛尼,另據報雲加亦有意將德國中衛梅迪薩卡收歸旗下…
ARSENAL are eyeing up a move for £10million-rated German star Per Mertesacker to boost their defensive reinforcements.
The Gunners are already close to finalising an £8.5m deal for Laurent Koscielny from French club Lorient.
But boss Arsene Wenger needs to make at least two big-money signings, with both William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre departing.
And if Sol Campbell joins Celtic it will leave Arsenal with just two senior central defenders - Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou.
Mertesacker, 25, has been on the Gunners' radar for some time with chief scout Steve Rowley regularly making personal checks on him in action for club side Werder Bremen.
The 6ft 5in defender's displays in helping Germany to the quarter-finals of the World Cup have strengthened the view he could do a job in the Premier League.
Wenger has been linked with several defenders this summer and has increased his offer for Everton's Phil Jagielka to £10m.
But Goodison boss David Moyes is urging his board not to part with the 27-year-old and that has persuaded Wenger to consider a swoop for Mertesacker.