Manchester City are close to signing Atletico Madrid defender Martin Demichelis for a reported fee of £4.2m, subject to a medical.
The Citizens are in need of cover at centre-back following an injury suffered by captain Vincent Kompany, and they also allowed Kolo Toure to leave for Liverpool earlier this summer.
Having been rebuffed in his attempts to sign Real Madrid centre-back Pepe, City boss Manuel Pellegrini has instead pursued Demichelis, who joined Atletico only in July on a free transfer.
However, the Spanish giants are poised to sign versatile Belgian Toby Alderweireld from Ajax and are therefore prepared to part with the 32-year-old.
Demichelis, an Argentine international with 37 caps, played under Pellegrini during his time at Malaga and at his native River Plate.
