Brazilian club Fluminense are close to clinching the signing of Fred after reaching a verbal agreement with the Lyon striker.

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Alexandre Faria, the Brazilian club's director of football, confirmed he will speak to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas to tie up the move.

Faria claims that an agreement was reached on Tuesday, and just needs the approval of Aulas, who last month agreed to let Fred go.

The Brazilian striker turned down a switch to Palmeiras in January, claiming that he would prefer to move to a European side.

Tottenham, Stoke and Atletico Madrid were among the interested parties, but it now seems likely that the 25-year-old will return to his homeland after all.

Fred wants to reignite his international career - which has stalled since he lost his starting spot at Les Gones - ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa.