Liverpool are set to beat Manchester City to the capture of Sebastian Coates.
The 20-year-old scooped the Best Young Player accolade at this summer's Copa America, when he featured alongside Reds' striker Luis Suarez in Uruguay's triumphant campaign.
He was expected to secure a move to FC Porto after a proposed move to São Paulo collapsed earlier this summer but the Premier League now appears his most likely destination.
Both Liverpool and City have retained interest in Coates while Arsenal are understood to have previously considered the centre-back in a bid to bolster their struggling defence.
Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, have bankrolled Kenny Dalglish's Anfield revolution to the tune of over £105million and Coates's arrival is expected to add up to £12million to the figure.
The move is expected to see Coates partner Jamie Carragher with the possibility of him succeeding the veteran defender as a long-term marshal of the club's defensive ranks.
As a result, Liverpool are likely to call off their plans to hijack Arsenal's bid for Merseyside-born Scott Dann with Birmingham's valuation of the defender remaining a sticking point.
Coates's father, Peter, is understood to be undergoing negotations in England while Club Nacional vice-president has reportedly claimed that the deal will 'certainly' materialise.
However the player himself is refusing to give an indication on where his future will lie.
"This week I will talk about offers and decide whether to go or stay here", Coates told Ovacion.
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Mel, USA around 9 months ago