Real Madrid have clinched an agreement for Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra.
The Daily Mail says Real Madrid have agreed the £20million signing of Diarra. The Spanish champions are on the verge of completing a deal for the 23-year-old, who had been Manchester City boss Mark Hughes' No 1 target for the January transfer window.
Hughes hoped to sign the cultured holding midfielder after fears that 35-year-old Dietmar Hamann was no longer up to the job.
But City's £18m interest in France international was blown out of the water by Real, who appear ready to back new boss Juande Ramos in the transfer market.