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Monaco: World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt needed a late surge to narrowly beat fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter in the 100 meters with his season’s best time of 9.88 seconds at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday.

Bolt overhauled his compatriot, who also ran his season’s best of 9.90, in the last 15 metres while American Michael Rodgers finished third with 9.96.

“It was not the best start, but I executed well overall,” Bolt told reporters after finding his form in his last scheduled meeting ahead of next month’s world championships.

“My last 60 meters have improved dramatically. I need to work on my reaction time, but I’ve been doing great in training, so I’m just focussing and I feel ready.

“My aim this season is to run 9.7, maybe 9.6. For me, this year it’s about building myself and go into the Olympic season fit and ready. London (2012 Olympics) is the key.”

Bolt set his 100 meters record of 9.58 at the 2009 world championships in Berlin and will defend his title at the August 27-September 4 world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

He will face competition from compatriot Asafa Powell who set a world leading time of 9.78 in Lausanne last month.

Among the others athletes posting world leading times ahead of the worlds were 800 meters world record holder David Rudisha, the Kenyan winning in one minute 42.61 seconds.

Britain’s Mo Farah also set the season’s best time in the 5,000 as he beat American Bernard Lagat in a sprint to the line in a time of 12 minutes 53.11.

In the women’s 200 Carmelita Jeter beat compatriot Allyson Felix, a three-time world champion at the distance, and Shalonda Solomon in an American clean sweep.

Olympic 400 hurdles champion Angelo Taylor held his nerve to defeat compatriot Bershawn Jackson while Britain’s world champion Phillips Idowu won the triple jump with 17.36 meters.

Chelsea have confirmed that they have agreed terms to sign Barcelona defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu.

The 19-year-old is he is currently on Under-20 World Cup duty with Spain but he is now due in West London to undergo a medical and finalise a £5m move.

Romeu made two appearances for Barcas first-team last season but they have agreed to his sale after Andre Villas-Boas made his move.

“I don’t want to speak too much about him because he is not our player,” said Chelsea boss Villas-Boas.

“It is a part of the squad in which we are struggling with numbers because of Michael Essien’s injury and Oriol is a player with a bright future. He still has to evolve as a player.

“The Barcelona B team had a magnificent year in the Spanish second division, they finished third. Oriol had an injury during the season but he came back late on and was in time to play for the first team.

“So he is one of the most promising young players in that position and hopefully we can agree personal terms and hopefully he will pass a medical.”

Meanwhile, Villas-Boas insisted that a deal to send new goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – who is arriving from Genk – on loan to Atletico Madrid was not yet complete.

“It is also a question of time and of deciding where we think it is better for him to evolve as a player, in Spain or in another country,’ the manager reported.

“The Spanish League is an extremely competitive league and Atletico is a great club to be at but it is not decided yet on his future.

“It is still a couple of days until we can confirm agreement between all three parties.”