Wolfsburg have confirmed that they are in advanced negotiations to sign Beijing Guoan midfielder Zhang Xizhe.

The 23-year-old has long been linked with a switch to European football and he was last year the subject of interest from Celtic.

However, Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg have revealed that they are close to winning the race for the China international's signature.

"There are now just some finer details to be clarified. We are confident about completing the signing of Zhang Xizhe and to be able to present him as a new signing next week," sporting director Klaus Allofs told the club's official website.

"He is a young player with the potential to develop. Although the leap from China to the Bundesliga is a significant one, we believe he can make it. We will, of course, give him the time he needs to do so."

Zhang has scored six goals from his 29 outings in the Chinese Super League this season.