Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund began their pre-season training on Wednesday with Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to join from French Cup winners Saint Etienne.
Dortmund's director Michael Zorc has been in France since Monday and confirmed they are in talks with the 24-year-old, who scored 19 goals and created 14 assists as Saint Etienne finished fifth in the French league last season.
"We are confident it will happen quickly," Zorc told the Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper.
Aubameyang is reported to be set to sign a five-year deal, for a cost of 13 million euros (US$16.8m, £11m) and would be Dortmund's second new signing after Greek defender Sokratis, who cost 9.5 million euros (US$12.3m, £8m) from Werder Bremen.
Both Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League side Newcastle United are said to also be chasing Aubameyang, who helped Saint Etienne win the French Cup last season, their first national title for 31 years.
Dortmund are in pre-season training at Kirchberg, Austria, until Saturday and have a pre-season tournament on July 20 and 21 hosted by Borussia Moenchengladbach and including Hamburg and European champions Bayern Munich.
Source: AFP
