Alves, who is currently on international duty with Brazil, has been persistently linked with a move to Barcelona since the end of the season after he told the Spanish press he hoped to leave Andalucia "as soon as possible".

And the 25-year-old's agent Jose Rodriguez Baster claims a deal with Barcelona will soon be finalised.

"I think (a deal is close) but I don't know exactly as I've had no word since Thursday," Baster told Spanish newspaper Marca.

"I've spoken with him (Alves) but, as he's playing in Brazil, I'm not going to bother him because all the games with his national team are important for him.

"We'll talk soon. He anxious and a little unsettled, but he knows that he has to remain calm and know that all this is going to be sorted out.

"It's a question of time, nothing more."

Barcelona have already spent big this summer to bring the likes of Seydou Keita, Gerard Pique and Martin Caceres to the Nou Camp, and would be expected to pay in the region of 30million euros for Alves.

On Friday, the Catalan club confirmed the transfer of Giovani Dos Santos to Tottenham in a deal which could rise to 11million euros, while reports in Spain suggest Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o are set to follow the Mexican out of the club as Barca look to completely overhaul their squad.