Martinez set to sign for Bayern in record deal

Spain midfielder Javier Martinez looks set to sign for Bayern Munich on Wednesday after passing the obligatory medical in the Bavarian capital, according to reports in the German media.

The 23-year-old has been a Bayern target for weeks and the Bavarian giants are reported to be set to pay a Bundesliga record fee of 40 million euros (US$50.2m) for him.

German Sky broadcast images of Martinez, who currently plays for Athletic Bilbao, arriving in Munich at midnight on Tuesday before he completed the medical in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Martinez trained with his Spanish team on Tuesday, with the transfer window set to close on Friday, but Bilbao on Wednesday demanded an explanation and insisted they had not authorised his trip to Germany.

"Athletic Club wish to state that they did not at any point authorise Javi Martinez's trip to Munich on August 28," read a statement on the club's website.

"Athletic Club have asked for an explanation for the player, who still belongs to them."

The defensive midfielder has made eight appearances for Spain and he came off the bench for Spain briefly at both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Bayern have already strengthened their squad this season with midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri arriving from FC Basel, striker Mario Mandzukic from Wolfsburg and Brazilian defender Dante from Moenchengladbach.