Diarra set for Real Madrid as Pompey accept bid

Lassana Diarra is poised to become Juande Ramos' first signing since taking over as manager of Real Madrid after Portsmouth accepted a ''substantial'' bid for the defensive midfielder.

Empics

Lassana Diarra: Onwards and upwards

The 23-year-old former Le Havre, Chelsea and Arsenal player, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, has been given permission to talk to the Spanish giants and will complete a move in January if he passes a medical and agrees personal terms.

While there is no official word on the exact figure Real Madrid have offered reports suggest that Portsmouth could be set to receive as much as £24 million.

''We have always said we would only allow our players to leave if we received an exceptional bid,'' said a Portsmouth spokesperson, who added that ''We could not stand in the way of a move such as this for Lassana''.

Diarra who signed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he joined from Arsenal in January this year for around £5million, but at the time admitted that he saw the move to Fratton Park being a stepping stone in his career before sealing a move to a bigger club.

Attempting to put a positive spin on the news that one of their best players appears set to quit the club, the Portsmouth spokesperson said: ''It shows how far the club has come under the ownership of Alexandre Gaydamak when Real Madrid come in for one of our players. Should the deal be completed, the club have already identified possible replacements.''

If the deal goes through Diarra will become the first signing of the Ramos era at the Bernebeu, though he will not be the only January arrival.

Before Ramos took control Real had agreed a deal with Ajax to sign their striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar and have also been linked with moves for Aston Villa's Ashley Young or Inter Milan's Mancini.