Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is pushing to close a deal for River Plate midfielder Exequiel Palacios.

AS says there's a confidence that Palacios will sign for Real Madrid next weekend.

River are due to play the second-leg of the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors and it will be announced immediately after the game that Palacios has signed with Real.

Last week, River president Rodolfo D'Onofrio confirmed his sports director Enzo Francescoli had fielded a call from Real chief Emilio Butragueno about Palacios' situation.

Negotiations have since intensified, with a deal now expected to be confirmed in a week's time.