Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta is on the verge of leaving Valencia for Lazio, the Italian news agency ANSAreported today.
The 27-year-old held talks with Sergio Cragnotti, the president of the Rome club, and Jaime Orti, the president of Valencia at Formello on the outskirts of the Italian capital.
Lazio refused to comment on the outcome of the talks.
"We have nothing to say. The negotiations are continuing," said a club spokesman.
Valencia, runners-up in the Champions League final last year, had already said that they would not be prepared to sell Mendieta to deadly rivals Real Madrid unless they stumped up the 51 million dollars get-out clause written into the player's contract.
Later this afternoon, the Spanish news agency EFE reported from Rome that a 38 million dollar fee had been agreed for the player. -AFP