Barcelona to swoop for Real Madrid's Solari

Barcelona are set to stun Real Madrid by securing winger Santiago Solari to a pre-contract this month.

Solari's current deal winds down in June and is being courted by Manchester United and AC Milan. But AS says a deal has been struck which will see Solari move to the Nou Camp on a Bosman at the end of this season.

A deal worth £700,000-a-season has been struck, which will see Solari earn much more based on appearances and success. His arrival solves a problem for Barca coach Frank Rijkaard, who has admitted his midfield has been unbalanced after losing Luis Garcia to Liverpool at the start of the season.