Barcelona ink deal for Colombian defender Yerry Mina

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Barcelona have reached an agreement with Brazil's Palmeiras to sign Colombian international center-back Yerry Mina, bringing forward an existing deal by six months, according to widespread media reports.

Mina has already travelled to the Catalan capital ahead of an official announcement later this week, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said on Sunday.

Barcelona originally agreed to pay nine million euros (about 10.8 million U.S. dollars) to bring the 23-year-old to the Camp Nou in July.

But the Blaugrana agreed to raise the price by three million euros to fast-track the deal amid doubts over Javier Mascherano's future at the club and an injury to Samuel Umtiti, according to reports.

Mina, who has been capped five times for Colombia's national team, made 49 appearances for Palmeiras after joining the club from Independiente Santa Fe on a five-year deal in May 2016. Enditem