Catania have turned down an approach from Fulham for Maxi Lopez and expect the striker to complete a transfer to Milan.

Catania club administrator Pietro Lo Monaco confirmed yesterday that Lopez, who has scored three goals in 14 Serie A appearances this year, has an agreement in place to join the San Siro club and should complete a deal in the coming days.

“We have had an agreement with Milan for some time,” Lo Monaco said.

“Lopez is close to becoming an Milan player. We have rejected Fulham’s offer. Now we wait for Milan to make a move as it has to resolve a minor issue. At this point it’s likely that Maxi will play the next game with the Rossoneri.”

However, Lo Monaco’s version of events is at odds with that of Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani, who claims the deal rests on the outcome of their negotiations with Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez.

The Rossoneri pulled out of negotiations with City earlier this month but have now confirmed they are back in the race to sign the 27-year-old.

Milan face stiff competition from Paris St Germain and Inter to land Tevez, who has stated his preference to join Milan, and Galliani insisted that they will move for Lopez only if a deal for Tevez fails to materialise.

“If Tevez does not arrive, then Maxi Lopez will join us,” Galliani said.

“Either one or the other – certainly not the two of them.”

Reports claimed Lopez travelled to Milan yesterday to complete his transfer to the San Siro outfit.

However, Galliani said: “I think he is already in Milan but we will now see what happens.

“We must be calm, we need to wait a few more days. Maxi Lopez is a player that interests us a lot and it’s likely that he will arrive. The situation is very simple – we have an agreement with Catania and with the player.”