Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Brazilian right-back Douglas, according to Sao Paulo's vice president of football Ataide Gil Guerreiro.
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But the deal to recruit the 24-year-old has been complicated by FIFA's decision to reject Barca's appeal against a two-window transfer ban.
Speaking to Radio Globo, Gil Guerreiro said: "We've agreed everything, but the contract hasn't been signed. A little problem has arisen.
"We'd asked Barcelona if they could loan Douglas back to us for a year after they'd bought him but now that they have been punished with this ban, they cannot.
"Our lawyers are looking for a way to solve it. Yet the deal is agreed and he will be a Barcelona player.''
The ban, imposed for breaching rules on signing international players aged under 18, will come into effect in January so the club are keen to boost their numbers before the current transfer window closes.
Barca have already had a busy summer of recruitment, signing Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo, Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremy Mathieu, Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez.
Douglas, who has made 93 appearances for Sao Paulo since arriving from Goias in 2012, has one year left on his contract.
He will look to challenge compatriot Dani Alves for a starting spot after the veteran had a difficult World Cup on home turf, being dropped in favour of Maicon from the quarterfinal onwards.