Barcelona agree deal for Santos forward – report

Ashley Colbourn

SANTOS, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 11: Lucas Lima of Santos in action during the match between Santos and America MG for the Brazilian Series A 2016 at Vila Belmiro stadium on December 11, 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)

Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Brazil international Lucas Lima from Santos which will see the player move in January, according to Fox Sports Radio.

Lima, 26, made his international debut in 2015, and the timing of the move is linked to the end of the players contract and the culmination of the Brazilian season.

The deal will officially be signed on July 1, and the fact that he is close friends with Barcelona superstar Neymar is thought to have played a part in the move.

Lima has made 175 appearances for ‘the Fish’, scoring 18 goals. He will be the clubs second signing of the summer, after the £4m purchase of Marlon from Fluminese.

Last season was one to forget for the Catalans, with their Copa Del Ray success being outdone by Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League double.

Manager Luis Enrique has since been replaced by Ernesto Valverde, who was previously at Athletic Bilbao and will be looking to improve the club’s fortunes this time around.