Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly on the brink of signing Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz.
The Spaniard has been persistently linked with a move away from Naples over the past couple of years, with numerous Premier League sides tipped to make a move.
Manchester United had allegedly earmarked Ruiz as an ideal signing should they ultimately fail to get a deal over the line for Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, who remains their top midfield target.
Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Newcastle United have also been linked with a move for the 26-year-old, whose contract with Napoli expires at the end of the current campaign.
In order to avoid the prospect of Ruiz leaving on a free transfer in 2023, Napoli have been expected to offload the midfielder for a cut-price fee in the current window.
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Now, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that PSG are set to win the race for Ruiz's services, and talks have reached a "very advanced" stage with the Partenopei.
Romano claims that new PSG football advisor Luis Campos has been integral to getting a deal for Ruiz over the line, going so far as to establish a "secret plan" to sign the Spain international.
Ruiz's agents have supposedly been in dialogue with PSG for a number of weeks, and the former Real Betis man will soon become Les Parisiens' latest summer acquisition.
Napoli paid just €3m (£2.5m) to prise Ruiz away from Betis in the summer of 2018, and he has since registered 22 goals and 17 assists in 166 games for Luciano Spalletti's side.
Ruiz ended the 2021-22 campaign with seven goals and five assists to his name from 38 matches in all tournaments, starting 29 Serie A games to help Napoli finish third in the table.
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The midfielder has won one Coppa Italia crown with Napoli over the past four years and prepares to become PSG's fifth signing of a productive summer transfer window.
Vitinha, Renato Sanches and Nordi Mukiele have all arrived at the Parc des Princes on permanent deals, while Hugo Ekitike has joined on loan from Reims with an option to buy.
The competition for places in Christophe Galtier's midfield has already seen Georginio Wijnaldum leave the club for Roma on loan, and Idrissa Gueye is supposedly on the verge of sealing a return to Everton.
Leandro Paredes is still thought to be a target for Juventus, and Napoli are supposedly in talks to sign PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas as part of a separate transaction.
The Ligue 1 champions began the defence of their title with a comprehensive 5-0 thumping of Clermont on Saturday, with Lionel Messi bagging a brace alongside goals from Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos and Neymar.
Ben Knapton
