Newcastle United are hoping to persuade Argentinian playmaker Pablo Aimar his future lies on Tyneside over the next 48 hours.
It is understood the Magpies have agreed a £7million fee for the Real Zaragosa midfielder, and reports from Spain suggest his representatives are on their way to Tyneside in an attempt to thrash out a deal.
The club, as has been their policy on transfers all summer, was making no comment today, but they appear to have nudged their way ahead of a series of other suitors. If the move for Aimar is completed, it will be a welcome boost for fans that have had to deal with a summer of speculation.
Vice-president of player recruitment Tony Jimenez has excellent contacts in Spain, while technical co-ordinator Jeff Vetere is understood to have spent part of his summer in South America scouting for talent.
Aimar began his career in Argentina with River Plate and enjoyed a hugely successful spell in Spain with Valencia.
However, his time at Zaragoza has proved less fruitful and the chance to revive his career in England could prove attractive after a proposed move to Benfica fell through.
Newcastle have already landed his compatriot Jonas Gutierrez, who completed his switch from Real Mallorca earlier this month, while they have also been linked with Liverpool's young Argentinian defender Emiliano Insua in recent days.
The Magpies have kept themselves to themselves this summer as Keegan and executive director Dennis Wise and his team have gone about the business of strengthening the first-team squad under the watchful eye of owner Mike Ashley.
They pushed through the Gutierrez deal under a cloak of secrecy, and then completed a lower-profile swoop for Liverpool midfielder Danny Guthrie last week.
A resolution of Steven Taylor's contract situation has also come as a boost to Keegan, who is keen for the club to tie up Michael Owen and Steve Harper on new deals, and talks are under way with the England striker as he enters the final year of his current agreement.
Work is continuing too behind the scenes with Keegan re-shaping his backroom staff.
Coach Steve Round has left for Everton, but former defender Robbie Elliott has returned to St James' Park as strength and conditioning coach under senior fitness coach Mark Hulse.
Elliott, 34, made 188 senior appearances for his home town club in two spells and played under Keegan during his first reign as manager.
He returned under Sir Bobby Robson in the summer of 2001 and spent five more years on Tyneside before heading for neighbours Sunderland and then Leeds.
Keegan's senior players will get their first taste of pre-season action at League One Hartlepool on Saturday.
