Madrid – Spanish champions Barcelona are poised to extend the contract of defender Eric Abidal until 2014, according to daily paper Sport on Friday.

Abidal, 31, underwent an emergency operation in March to remove a liver tumour and was expected to be out of action for the rest of the season.

However, he made a late cameo appearance in Tuesday's Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid, to the delight of a crowd that was already celebrating qualification for the May 28 final.

According to Sport, the popular French defender has already agreed to the contract extension and will sign it “in the next few days”.

Sport also claimed on Friday that Barca are close to signing Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez from Italian club Udinese.