Friday 18 January 2019 13:00, UK
Cardiff City are closing in on Emiliano Sala with the Nantes striker undergoing a medical in Wales on Friday, Sky Sports News understands.
But he is in a race against time to complete the necessary tests and paperwork before the midday deadline, which needs to be met in order for him to be registered to play against Newcastle this weekend.
Cardiff and Nantes have agreed a fee believed to be in the region of £18million after protracted talks that began in December.
Ligue 1 club Nantes had wanted him to play one final game for them against Angers on Sunday.
Nantes' Kalifa Coulibaly was sent off in their league defeat against Nimes on Wednesday and the club's desire for Sala to be available for selection at the weekend is understood to have held up his move to Cardiff.
Sala, who flew to the UK on Monday for talks with Cardiff manager Neil Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo, has scored 12 goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances this season, with Nantes sitting 13th in the French top flight.
The Bluebirds, one point above the relegation zone, have also agreed terms with Everton on a loan deal for striker Oumar Niasse until the end of the season.
