Sergio Aguero is edging closer to joining Barcelona after agreeing big-money terms with the Camp Nou club, according to reports in Spain.
The Argentine legend will leave Manchester City at the expiry of his contract this summer after a stunning 258-goal decade at the Etihad.
A number of Premier League rivals were believed to be weighing up swoops for the 32-year-old after he announced his departure in March.
But Barcelona quickly emerged as frontrunners for Aguero's signature and the former Atletico Madrid striker seems poised to return to La Liga.
Barca chiefs have tabled a €5million-per-year (£4.3m-per-year) contract which will keep Aguero at Camp Nou until 2023.
That's according to Catalan outlet beteve , which notes Aguero's arrival would come as a major boost to Barcelona president Joan Laporta as he continues to try and convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club.
Messi will be free to leave Barcelona in a matter of weeks and Laporta won March's presidential election after vowing to persuade the 33-year-old to sign a new deal.
Aguero and Messi are great friends from their time with the Argentina national team ranging from youth level to featuring alongside each other in the 2014 World Cup final.
Reflecting on his friendship with the Barcelona captain last year, Aguero said: "Messi and I have been together [on international fury] since we were 17 years old.
"We are already 32 (Aguero) and 33 (Messi) years old, we are like a worn-out married couple. He's a big whiner.
"I always fall asleep with the TV on and the next morning he's always complaining. For example, we get back to the hotel at 19.30 and we're eating at 21.00. There's time. But Leo's in the shower straight away and ready. I'm there in my boxers and talking on my phone...
"Time passes and with half an hour to go, he starts: 'We're eating at 21.00, in 30 minutes...' I'm still there on my phone and he's going: '10 minutes to go. We always arrive late. We've been here for an hour...'
"And then I get ready. The bad vibes start and he doesn't like arriving late!"