La Liga giants Barcelona have made substantial progress in completing the move to bring French defender Jeremy Mathieu to Camp Nou.
The 30-year-old Valencia defender has been rumored to be on Barcelona's radars for weeks and now appears to be set for a switch as a fee is believed to have been agreed, according to Goal.
The Catalan side have already made four signings in this summer transfer window in the form of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo, Ivan Rakatic, and Luis Suarez, but are yet to make any additions in the area where recruits are most needed; defense.
Barca close to wrapping up the signing of Valencia center-back Jeremy Mathieu
Blaugrana's solid defender Carles Puyol waved farewell to his club after a serious of injuries kept him on the sidelines, and fellow Spanish center-back Gerrard Pique has failed to marshal the defense in Puyol's absence.
This has cost the four-time Champions League winners a shot at lifting a trophy as Barcelona ended the 2013-14 season empty-handed.
The Blaugrana's defense has collapsed in Puyol's absence
Although the former Toulouse defender will add much-needed cover at the back, not everyone believs he is worth Barcelona's money. Mexican defender Rafael Marquez wonders whether he is the right man for the Liga BBVA heavyweights, questioning his price tag in particular, saying:
"I don't think he has the profile to play for Barcelona and even less so for this price."
Former Barca defender Rafael Marquez believes Jeremy Mathieu is not worth the Catalan side's money
"Hopefully they'll think well about this and if they're going to splash out like that, it's for someone who is actually worthwhile."
A deal will reportedly be announced in the upcoming days.
Mathieu and Messi set to be team-mates
