Marseille agrees on 4-year deal for Lucho Gonzalez
Marseille has agreed to sign Lucho Gonzalez from FC Porto on a four-year contract subject to the Argentina midfielder passing a medical examination.
The 28-year-old Gonzalez tore the meniscus in his left knee in a Champions League match against Manchester United in April. But Marseille is hopeful he has recovered and will sign soon.
An agreement has been reached in principle between both parties, Marseille said on its Web site. The club hopes Gonzalez will join the squad on Saturday in the Alpine resort of Evian.
Gonzalez has played 43 games for Argentina, scoring six goals, and formerly played for River Plate. He scored 32 times in 111 league games for Porto.
The transfer could become the highest in Marseilles history, with the Web site of sports daily LEquipe reporting that the 1993 European Cup winner could pay more than ?18 million ($25 million) for Gonzalez.
Marseille finished second in the French league behind Bordeaux last season, and new coach Didier Deschamps is determined to mount a serious title challenge next term.
Marseille is also in negotiations to sign defender Souleymane Diawara from Bordeaux.
