Villarreal's Musacchio arrives in Italy ahead of AC Milan transfer

Villarreal defender Mateo Musacchio is on the verge of joining AC Milan after arriving in Italy on Monday to undergo a medical, the team announced.

Interest in the 26-year-old Argentina international emerged earlier this month when reports suggested Milan was prepared to pay €18 million to secure Musacchio's services.

Once his medical is complete, Musacchio is expected to put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Rossoneri.

His expected arrival comes on the heels of Milan's berth into the qualifying stage to compete in the Europa League, as the club looks to strengthen its defensive core ahead of a season which could mark the storied Italian side's return to European competition for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign.

The centre-back - a product of River Plate - joins a defensive unit that primarily featured Gabriel Paletta and Alessio Romagnoli at the heart of Milan's defence. However, Musacchio is expected to be thrusted into a starting role in place of his compatriot Paletta, 31, whose contract expires in 2018.

Mussacchio is a versatile, pacy defender - capable of also filling in at right-back - who appeared in over 150 matches during his seven years with the Yellow Submarine.