Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday confirmed the imminent signing of Dutch international right-back Gregory van der Wiel from Ajax.
With the transfer window for French clubs not closing until September 4, PSG still have time to complete the deal and Ancelotti revealed that the 24-year-old should be available to train with his new teammates "as of next week."
Van der Wiel will provide competition at right-back for PSG captain and France international Christophe Jallet.
"Christophe was our only option at right-back, now he will have competition, but that does not pose any problem for Christophe," said Ancelotti.
According to sources close to PSG, the 35-times capped Van der Wiel agreed to move to the Parc des Princes on Friday.
He is expected to sign a four-year deal worth 300,000 euros ($377,000) per month, with Ajax receiving a fee in the region of 6 million euros ($7.5m).
"I am ready for a new challenge. At Ajax I have experienced some marvellous moments but the time for change has come," Van der Wiel was quoted as saying in the Dutch press on Friday.
Sources close to the Ligue 1 club also claim that PSG and France striker Kevin Gameiro could move on before the transfer window closes.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti also confirmed on Saturday that summer signing Thiago Silva will not make his debut in Sunday night's Ligue 1 clash with Lille.
The Brazilian international, recruited from AC Milan for around 47 million euros ($59.1m) in the summer, "arrived injured," according to his coach, after taking part in the Olympics with Brazil.
However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the squad for the game despite not being 100 percent fit, in the eyes of his coach, because of an ankle problem.
Former Liverpool and Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is also named in the squad for the trip to France's far north having recovered from fitness problems of his own.
Source: AFP
