Manchester City assistant manager Mark Bowen says Brazilian superstar Kaka is "very close" to a world record-breaking transfer from Italian giants AC Milan.
A City delegation travelled to Italy and reportedly bid about 100m euros for the 26-year-old attacking midfielder.
Kaka has said he intends to stay at Milan but Bowen told BBC Sport Wales: "We believe the deal is very close.
"We are selling the future plans of the club to the player."
Kaka's adviser Diogo Kotscho said the 2007 Fifa World Player of the Year would be open to a move to City if Milan wanted to sell.
And Mark Hughes' right-hand-man Bowen revealed: "I've read a lot about his love of AC Milan - and that goes without saying - but even when people said the deal was dead, that was not our understanding.
"We are still hopeful of still signing Kaka.
"The situation has been a surprise to everyone but obviously negotiations have been going on for a fair while.
"How close we are I don't know but our understanding is that it is very much a strong possibility that Kaka will be coming to Manchester City."
