Off-spinner Harbhajan took 5-29 in India's recent Test win against Australia in Mumbai, ending the series with 21 wickets at an average of 24.

A club spokesman told BBC Sport: "We are currently at an advanced stage of negotiation with Harbhajan."

"We are hoping to secure his services and are waiting to hear from the BCCI."

Harbhajan would be a like-for-like replacement for fellow international Saqlain Mushtaq.

Saqlain, who has had operations on both his knees after being dropped by Pakistan, barely played for Surrey in 2003.

Harbhajan, rated the 11th best bowler in the world, was signed by Lancashire for the 2003 season but did not play a game due to a finger injury.

He later had surgery on the damaged digit which meant another frustrating absence from the game for much of 2004.

However his recent performances against Australia, in which he picked up three five-wicket hauls in just three Tests, showed he was back on top of his game.

Harbhajan missed India's defeat in Nagpur in the third Test with a stomach virus.