Barcelona have an 'agreement in place' to sign Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero on a free transfer, with a deal understood to be 'very close'.
New Barcelona president Joan Laporta has agreed to sanction a two-year contract for the 32-year-old, lasting until June 2023.
Argentine striker Aguero's contract at the Etihad expires this summer, meaning clubs outside Spain could start contract negotiations from back in January for a move that would not involve a transfer fee.
According to AS, the only reason the contract has not been signed is because although Laporta is due to become president shortly, Carles Tusquets is in interim charge.
Aguero's agent Hernan Reguera had offered the 97-cap international to the three presidential candidates Laporta, Victor Font and Toni Freixa, with his words evidently striking a chord with lawyer Laporta.
The Catalan giants have already snapped up promising City centre half Eric Garcia, 20, on a five-year contract, also a free transfer.
And a fresh start the Nou Camp is likely to have proved tempting to Aguero, who scored his first Premier League goal of an injury-hit season with a penalty against Fulham on Saturday.
The renewal could also mean a longer stay for talismanic forward and compatriot Lionel Messi, with the Spanish daily newspaper suggesting the deal for Aguero might be conditional on Messi remaining at the club.
Legendary former Barcelona goalkeeper and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta strongly considered signing Aguero in 2014, before eventually plumping for Luis Suarez, who proved a huge success at the club.
It is also understood that signing the 5'8" forward would not preclude a move for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, who is considered the centrepiece of Barcelona's recruitment for next campaign.
Aguero would provide excellent cover and competition for the Norwegian, adding a clear step up in quality from Martin Braithwaite and offering a game-changing option and massive experience.
However, the move may sour relations between Laporta and boss Ronald Koeman, who has been requesting the signing of Lyon's Memphis Depay, whose contract also expires this summer, for more than a year.