Southend boss Steve Tilson expects to complete a deal for Portsmouth's Jean-Francois Christophe by the end of the week. The 21-year-old French midfielder has been on loan at Roots Hall for three months.
And Tilson admitted that he hopes to clinch a two-and-a-half year deal for the player very soon.
"Things are progressing well with Jean - it should all be sorted now before the end of the week and it would be great to keep him," Tilson told the club's official website.
"He's done well for us and we've been waiting for his agent to come back to us with a proposal. That didn't happen until Monday but it's almost done now."
Christophe, who has made 18 appearances for the Shrimpers, added: "I want to stay so hopefully it can all be sorted out. I like it at the club, I've got games to play and it's an opportunity for me."