AGENCIES, SHILLONG: In what should be a comforting piece of news for NorthEast United fans, the club are close to sealing a deal for Brazilian attacking midfielder Marcio de Souza Gregório Júnior, popularly known as Marcinho.

The 31-year-old will become the first foreign signing for the club for the 2017-18 Indian Super League season. When asked, a source close the club quoted a club official as sayi: "We are going to make some big announcements soon. As regards any particular player, we will let you know by the end of this week."

However, the reliable transfermarkt.com website has already listed him as a NorthEast United player, suggesting the transfer is imminent. NorthEast have been known to be one of the ISL teams with the lowest wage bill, but their delay in signing a foreign player has tested the patience of the club's fans all summer.

Marcinho has played at top Brazilian clubs like Corinthians and last played at Turkish second division outfit Gaziantepspor. He has also played in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia and Russia with FC Ufa. The attacking midfielder can play on both flanks as well as his favoured central position and will not be a newcomer to Asian football like many other new ISL foreign signings.