Bordeaux centre-back David Sommeil is expected to sign with Manchester City within the next 24 hours.

Sommeil, 29, has been linked with a move to City for some time, but Bordeaux have been awaiting financial guarantees from the English Premier League club before agreeing to sell their player. Money has become available since the collapse of Robbie Fowler’s move from Leeds to Maine Road.

Sommeil will join a growing French contingent at Maine Road, playing alonsidecompatriots alongside compatriots Sylvain Distin, Nicolas Anelka and French-born Algerian Ali Benarbia, who spent most of his playing career in France.

Sommeil will take a medical on Wednesday and, if successful, will become the second Bordeaux player to leave Bordeaux for England in the past month, following striker Christophe Dugarry’s move to Birmingham City a fortnight ago.