Toulouse FC midfielder Etienne Capoue is on the verge of agreeing a deal to join Paris Saint-Germain, ESPN FC understands.
Capoue, 24, has previously been linked with Arsenal and Everton, but the French midfielder seems to prefer a summer move to the Parc des Princes.
The 24-year-old, who made his professional debut for Toulouse against Lille OSC in December 2007, has earned five caps for France under manager Didier Deschamps.
The player’s agent Mino Raiola is currently holding talks with PSG regarding the future of the France international.
“There was contact this winter with PSG and there still is today,” Capoue told beIN Sport on Monday. “I hope there will be plenty more contact between us. We are undoubtedly very close.”
However, Capoue did leave the door open for a potential summer move abroad if negotiations do not materialise with PSG.
“I have no problem staying in France, but there are fewer competitive clubs than there are elsewhere in Europe,” added the 24-year-old.
“I am a big PSG fan so to play for them would be a dream. I want to play in the Champions League, and whatever happens it will be a personal choice. For me, a top club is one that is playing in the Champions League.”
Capoue, whose current contract expires in the summer of 2014, has bagged seven goals and three assists in 29 Ligue 1 matches for Toulouse this season.
Real Madrid linked with Pogba and Niang
Recent reports have suggested that AC Milan striker M’Baye Niang and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba are summer targets for Real Madrid, according to Italian sport newspaper Tuttosport.
Niang, who joined AC Milan on a three-year deal from SM Caen for an undisclosed transfer fee, has been impressive for the Rossoneri this term despite scoring just one goal in 20 appearances in all competitions.
The 18-year-old striker has been a regular selection for Massimiliano Allegri since breaking into Milan’s first-team after scoring in the club’s 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Reggina Calcio on 13 December.
Niang has not scored since the indicated mid-December match against Reggina, but he must be doing something right if he’s attracting interest from Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Paul Pogba, who signed a four-year deal with the Bianconeri in August 2012 after leaving Manchester United, has established himself as a first-team regular at Juventus.
The 20-year-old France international has scored five goals in 33 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A leaders this season.
Now then, the infamous agent Mino Raiola, who represents both Niang and Pogba, has indicated that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez must contact him in order to sign both or either highly-rated Frenchman.
“If Perez wants them, he has to call me. He has to deal with me,” said Raiola.
“Real are not the only ones, there are clubs all over the world that would like Pogba and Niang.
“Nowadays there are no contracts that can tie a player to one club. Nobody is bulletproof when you’re appreciated all over the world.”
Stay tuned for more developments.
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