Basel football club are set to add some more firepower to their Swiss league title bid, by buying last season's joint top-scorer Christian Gimenez from Ticinese rivals Lugano.

The 26-year-old Argentinian is to sign a four-year deal, with Basel forking out around SFr 3.3 million for his services. Gimenez will be the second big arrival at Basel this month, following the signing of Australian star Scott Chipperfield.

Gimenez joined Lugano from Buenos Aires side Boca Juniors in 1997. He will play his last match for Roberto Morinini's side against Grasshoppers Zurich on Saturday, before signing for Basel on Sunday.

"If everything goes according to plan, Gimenez will be playing for us in St Gallen on Wednesday," announced Basel president René C. Jäggi.

Lugano's decision to sell Gimenez heralds the dismantling of one of the most feared strike teams in the Swiss league. While last season's runners-up can still call on Gimenez's main goal-scoring partner, Julio Hernan Rossi, the club have decided not to renew their contract with former Switzerland international Kubilay Türkyilmaz.

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