Stephane Mbia is en route to London and will have a medical at QPR this afternoon, Mark Hughes has confirmed.
Hughes has been strongly linked with the versatile Marseille defender over the last 48 hours and the Rangers boss now hopes to conclude a deal for the player before tonight's 11pm deadline.
"He is en route as we speak," Hughes told a press conference. "Hopefully we will get him in to a medical quite quickly."
Mbia, 26, has been at Marseille for the past three years, but revealed yesterday that he was destined for QPR after the club lodged a bid to sign him.
Comprehensive discussions over a contract for the player, who can also operate in midfield, have already taken place, leaving Hughes optimistic he will be able to get the deal done before the deadline.
"A lot of discussion has taken place in terms of (his) contract and expectations from both sides so that's pretty much been concluded," the Welshman added.
"So once we get through the medical hopefully we will be able to conclude the deal very quickly. He is another player that can play in a couple of positions. I like that flexibility in players. He is a good age, and we have paid a good price for him."
Should Hughes sign Mbia, it is likely to herald the end of the club's bid to sign Ricardo Carvalho or Michael Dawson.
QPR have also been in talks with Marseille over a loan deal for Joey Barton. Barton is surplus to requirements at Loftus Road after his sending off against Manchester City last season and he is in the French city to finalise a season-long loan.
The French transfer window shuts on Tuesday, but Hughes reckons the deal for the former R's skipper could go through today. He said: "I would have thought it would be concluded quite quickly. I would be surprised if it wasn't.
Source: PA
