Tuesday 8 July 2014 16:23, UK
Villarreal are poised to sign Serbian defender Antonio Rukavina on a two-year contract, pending the result of a medical.
The 30-year-old right-back is a free agent having left relegated Real Valladolid at the end of his contract and will commit himself to the Yellow Submarine after a medical scheduled for Wednesday morning.
A statement published on Villarreal's official website said the club expected to present Rukavina at El Madrigal on Wednesday afternoon.
The Belgrade-born defender made 34 league appearances for Valladolid in the 2013-14 season but was unable to help keep the Pucelle in the Primera Division.
He started his career at Bezanija before brief spells at Partizan Belgrade and Borussia Dortmund preceded a 112-game spell with 1860 Munich. He signed for Valladolid on a free transfer in June 2012.
Rukavina has also appeared 29 times for Serbia and travelled to South Africa as part of the Eagles' 2010 World Cup squad.
Villarreal on Tuesday praised the player for his "consistency in defence and ability to join in with attacks" while describing him as "experienced in top-level competitions and in amazing physical condition".
Rukavina will be Villarreal's third signing of the summer should he follow Russian striker Denis Cheryshev and goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo to Castellon.
Villarreal later announced they had agreed to sell French striker Jeremy Perbet to Turkish Super Lig newcomers Istanbul Basaksehir for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old, who scored 22 goals in 48 games for the El Madrigal side, becomes the latest new addition to the First League champions' squad - defender Alexandru Epureanu has already arrived from Anzhi Makhachkala.
Perbet proved to be instrumental in helping Villarreal win promotion to La Liga in 2012-13 as he scored 11 goals in 18 Segunda Division appearances following a January switch from Mons.
