Marseille have confirmed they should complete the signing of Fernando Morientes over the next 24 hours.

The striker is a free agent after leaving Valencia this summer.

A statement on Marseille's official website, www.om.net , read: "An agreement in principle has been found this Monday afternoon with Fernando Morientes.

"The Spanish striker, who played in the colours of Valencia in 2008/09, is available on a free transfer.

"He should be at Marseille on Tuesday to sign his contract."

Morientes, 33, has scored 27 goals in 47 appearances for Spain.

He played under Didier Deschamps, the new coach of Marseille, during the 2003/04 season when he spent a year on loan from Real Madrid at Ligue 1 side Monaco.

During that time, Morientes built up a great relationship with Deschamps as the principality club reached the final of the Champions League, losing 3-0 to Porto.

Morientes has also played for Albacete, Real Zaragoza and Liverpool.

He left Liverpool in 2006 to join Valencia but he rarely appeared for Los Che last season - he played 19 times in the Primera Division, scoring one goal.

If he does join OM, he will become their eighth summer signing, after Lucho Gonzalez, Stephane Mbia, Souleymane Diawara, Edouard Cisse, Cyril Rool, Elinton Andrade and Charley Fomen.

He will compete with Brandao as the club's chief striker.

Marseille also announced this afternoon that Lorient midfielder Fabrice Abriel would be joining them.

The 30-year-old will sign a three-year contract and will train with his future OM team-mates tonight.

A statement on www.om.net read: "An agreement was made on Monday for the transfer to OM of Fabrice Abriel (Lorient).

"The midfielder is going to sign for three years."

The fee for the transfer was not disclosed.

Abriel is a classy, ball-playing midfielder who will provide further competition in OM's engine room.

He scored seven goals last season, including a superb strike at the Stade Velodrome in Lorient's 3-2 away win last November.