RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sao Paulo are close to announcing the loan signing of Brazilian centre half Maicon from Portuguese club FC Porto, according to Globo Esporte.

The 27-year-old is likely to join the Paulista outfit until June 30, with the deal being officially publicised on Monday and the player registering on the following day.

Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza, who joined the club late last year, has made bolstering the defence a priority, to give competition to first-choice central defensive partnership Lugano and Breno.

The Brazilian club had intially tried to bring in Marco Torsiglieri of Mexican side Morelia, but a deal could not be agreed. In order to be eligible for the Copa Libertadores, new signings must be made by Tuesday (16 February).

Sao Paulo kick off their Copa Libertadores campaign this Wednesday, against The Strongest, of Bolivia.

Maicon began his career in Brazil with Belo Horizonte giants Cruzeiro, before moving to Porto in 2009.