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"Aliou will be with us any day now and I believe he is going to fall in love with Birmingham," Blues chairman David Gold told the B'ham Evening Mail.
"This is a player of the highest calibre, a real star who Steve has pinpointed as someone who could be a great asset to us. A fee has been agreed between the clubs, so now it's up to us to convince the player to join us.
"I am optimistic, not just because Birmingham City is a quality club with a wonderful stadium, but because Birmingham is a quality city - and getting better all the time.
"Birmingham is a fabulous place and that is hugely important, because when a player thinks about a move, especially from another country, it's not just a case of him considering a new place of work, it's also a new pace to life and a whole new way of life.
"That's why I am optimistic that he will sign. Birmingham is a city I am proud to be associated with and I firmly believe that, when he sees the city and surrounding areas, he will feel the same way. I believe the deal could be done in a very short space of time."