Olympique Marseille president Pape Diouf has confirmed fullback Habib Beye is close to a move to Newcastle United.

"At the moment, we are not too far off," Diouf said in a statement on l'OM's official website.

"In the next 24 hours, it could be definitively clinched."

Beye, who is the captain of l'OM, has not appeared in Marseille's first team for their past two Ligue 1 games.

Media reports in France claimed the defender, who was linked with a move to the Magpies during the summer, has already had a medical at St James' Park.