Barcelona have confirmed that they have agreed a deal in principle to sell goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to Manchester City.

The Chile international has been the regular La Liga goalkeeper for the Blaugrana since he arrived at the club from Real Sociedad in 2014, and he played the full 90 minutes of his side’s opening league match of the new season, a 6-2 triumph over Real Betis on Saturday night.

The 33-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League outfit Manchester City in recent weeks and Barca technical secretary Robert Fernandez has now confirmed that a deal for the stopper has been agreed in principle between the two sides.

Fernandez said on Barca’s official Twitter account: “We have the beginning of an agreement with Manchester City for Claudio Bravo.”

The technical secretary confirmed that Bravo will only complete his move to the Citizens once the Catalan Giants have signed a replacement stopper, as Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jordi Masip are the only other senior goalkeepers currently on the books at the Camp Nou.

He added: “We are awaiting events this week. When Claudio leaves, we hope to have a new keeper.”

Should Bravo complete a move to Manchester this week, then he could make his debut for Pep Guardiola’s side when they take on West Ham in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

City are available at 1.29 to clinch a victory in that match, while the Hammers are on offer at 10.00 and the draw is priced at 5.25.