Sporting director Txiki Begiristain has confirmed Barcelona are closing in on Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy.

However he has stressed that no deal will be finalised before tomorrow's European Super Cup against the Ukrainian side.

Barca have long been linked with Chygrynskiy and the treble winners now look set to get their man, with Spanish media claiming the 22-year-old Ukraine international will cost around 25million euros.

Speaking prior to Barca's trip to Monaco where they will contest the European SuperCup against UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar, Begiristain was in optimistic mood but said that nothing had been sealed yet.

"It's still not closed and we will leave it until after the final. I think that it's on the right track and I don't think there will be any problems, but for sporting reasons we will not close anything until after Friday's game," he said on www.fcbarcelona.cat.

"Both Pep (Barca coach Guardiola) and the club have been keen to sign a centre-back with certain characteristics. Chygrynskiy fits this profile. He's dominant in the air and has good distribution. Someone of his profile is very difficult to find in the market and it's a key position for us."