St Etienne close on Sinama-Pongolle move

St Etienne are closing in on the loan signing of striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle from Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon.

The French club announced on their website that they had reached an agreement in principle with Sporting that would see Sinama-Pongolle move to St Etienne on an initial loan deal with the option of permanent a transfer thereafter.

The 26-year-old is due in France on Monday to take his medical with Les Verts, who finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season.

Sinama-Pongolle, who has one full cap with France, began his career at Le Havre before going on to play for Liverpool, Blackburn, Recreativo Huelva and Atletico Madrid before joining Sporting in 2010. He was loaned to Real Zaragoza last term.