The long-awaited takeover deal between Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars is closing in on its completion, according to a number of reports from usually reliable industry sources.

The deal, which has been rumored to be underway for almost half a year, would see PokerStars buy the remaining assets of Full Tilt Poker with approval by the American Department of Justice.

A takeover would make PokerStars the saving angel of thousands of players, who have been waiting to receive their funds from Full Tilt Poker since the site closed for business in June. Full Tilt Poker was among the rooms indicted by the DoJ on Black Friday, and soon after lost its license from the AGCC after the commission found a number of irregularities in Full Tilt's operations.

Now it appears that the deal could be closet than ever, as several rumors have been circulating since the end of last week.

The first reports about a successful outcome of the FTP-PokerStars negotiations came from Wendeen Eolis of the Poker Player Newspaper, who published an article saying that the negotiations "have come to an end". Eolis even added that "at this point I am ready to go out on a limb; FTP customers will see their monies well in time for Christmas shopping."

Eolis' reports was soon after followed up by a number of other commentators and bloggers, including some of the most reliable in the business, who all conveyed similar messages:

"Long awaited news coming at www.diamondflushpoker.com next few days. No speculation, no rumors, real news," poker blogger and investigating journalist "Diamond Flush" tweeted this weekend.

This was followed up by former Bluff Magazine editor Kevin "kevmath" Mathers, who wrote "Apparently, there will be an announcement regarding Stars and FTP on Monday," and former Pokernews journalist Jennifer Newell, who shared the following words:

"A very reliable source just told me the Stars/FTP deal is done. If no announcement today, it will happen on Monday. Book it."

All in all, very comforting news from the two largest poker rooms in the world, with potential massive implications for thousands of poker players across the globe.

Poker.org will follow the case and bring the announcement of the final takeover when and if the rooms go public with the news.