REAL CONFIRM DIARRA DEAL

Real Madrid have confirmed they have agreed a deal to sign Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra from Lyon, subject to a medical.

No fee has been confirmed, but it has been reported Real will pay in the region of 25 million euros (just over �17million) for the player, who joined Lyon from Vitesse Arnhem in 2002 and has made over 200 appearances for the club, helping Les Gones win four of their five consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

A statement on Real Madrid's official club website read: "Real Madrid would like to announce the agreement reached with Olympique Lyonnais and Mahamadou Diarra for the transfer of the player.

"Diarra will have his medical exam and be officially presented to the media in the upcoming days."

Real president Ramon Calderon expects more players to join the club this summer after completing the Diarra deal.

"It's who the coach asked for," Calderon said of Diarra.

"We are happy we could provide (coach Fabio) Capello with Diarra because the coach considers him essential to the team. Signing Diarra was a main priority for Capello."

He added on Real Madrid's official website: "I think we'll make Madridistas happy with some more good news, and (club sports director Predrag) Mijatovic is trying to reach agreements with some players. The squad should be complete in about one week, but hopefully we'll have more good news before then."