Finnbogason set for Real Sociedad switch

Real Sociedad de Fútbol have reached an agreement in principle with sc Heerenveen for the services of Iceland forward Alfred Finnbogason, who will move to the Basque side for a reported initial fee of around €8m.

The 25-year-old – who finished the 2013/14 campaign as the Dutch Eredivisie's 29-goal top scorer – will sign a four-year deal with La Real, having passed a medical in San Sebastian on Wednesday. With four goals in 21 appearances for Iceland, Finnbogason's reputation soared at Heerenveen where he found the net 53 times in 62 top-flight games over the past two seasons, becoming the club's all-time leading marksman.

Speaking recently about the former Breidablik, KSC Lokeren OV and Helsingborgs IF frontman, Marco van Basten – who has himself recently left the Heerenveen hot seat after two years in charge – said: "I would compare [Finnbogason] to Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jon Dahl Tomasson. He's cool, he has vision and a fine nose for goal. He could become a phenomenon."

Seventh in Spain last term, Jagoba Arrasate's Real Sociedad will contest a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie later this summer.