PSG close on Sissoko, bid for Pastore - source

Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has agreed a three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain and is close to joining the club, sources close to the deal told AFP on Wednesday. The same sources also confirmed media reports that PSG have made a bid for Palermo's coveted Argentine international playmaker Javier Pastore. Sissoko, a Mali international, was initially reluctant to join the newly rich French outfit but was won over by PSG's sporting director Leonardo, according to the sources. Italian sport daily La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Leonardo is prepared to pay eight million euros ($11.5m) to secure the former Liverpool holding midfielder. Sources told AFP that positive talks had taken place between PSG and Pastore, whose asking price has been set at 40 million euros by his Italian club. On Sunday, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini told Italian television channel SkySport-24 that both PSG and Chelsea had made contact over a potential transfer for Pastore. "I have a very good relationship with Maurizio Zamparini," was all Leonardo was prepared to say about the matter during a press conference on Wednesday. PSG have been linked with some of the biggest names in the game since they were bought by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) earlier this summer but Leonardo said that transfers for such players were never straightforward. "People talk about players like (Alexis) Sanchez, Ganso, Pastore, (Eden) Hazard, Neymar -- these are players that everyone wants," he said. "They're important players, young, talented players, who are on the market because they're wanted by lots of clubs." He added: "I often say, if you manage to sign Pele or (Diego) Maradona, it's not guaranteed that you'll win." Leonardo was slightly more forthcoming about PSG's need for a goalkeeper, after new signing Nicolas Douchez sustained an ankle injury that could mean he misses the start of the season. PSG face Lorient in their opening Ligue 1 fixture on August 6. "It's a situation that we're obliged to think about," said the former Inter Milan and AC Milan coach. La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday claimed that PSG could sign Palermo's Italy international goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu for 3.5 million euros.