Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Brazilian club Gremio to sign midfielder Arthur in a deal which could reach €40 million, sources have told ESPN Deportes' Jordi Blanco.
The 21-year-old was named the most valuable player in the Copa Libertadores final as his side won the premier international South American competition in November.
Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez travelled to watch him play in those games and now appears set sign Arthur for a transfer fee of €30m, with an additional €10m in incentive add-ons, sources said.
Gremio, which own only 60 percent of Arthur's rights, had initially been asking for €50m. The rest is shared between investor Celso Rigo and Arthur's family, the latter of which has has agreed not to demand any fee, a source said.
It is likely that Arthur would wait until next January to move to the Camp Nou, but a signing this summer has not been ruled out.