Panathinaikos are very close to signing France central defender Jean Alain Boumsong, the champions’ manager Nikos Nioplias confirmed on Monday, after the Greens' friendly loss to German side Mainz.

The 30-year-old player has reached a verbal agreement with Panathinaikos for a three-year contract and French newspaper L’ Equipe suggested on Tuesday that all that is left to arrange is a settlement with his current club, Lyon, with whom Boumsong has a contract until next summer.

“We are acquiring a good player and we believe that he will help us. This is a player with some 30 caps with France,” said Nioplias after the 2-0 defeat to Mainz in Austria late on Monday.

“We are on our way to completing this transfer. Based on his CV he is a good player. A very good one. I believe he is a good player because he is an international, too. Even the day before yesterday he played with Lyon against Juventus,” added Nioplias.

Reports in the Greek press stated on Tuesday that former Auxerre, Rangers, Newcastle and Juventus player Boumsong will come to Athens by the end of the week to sign his contract with Panathinaikos.