Microsoft-Yahoo search deal imminent?

Kara Swisher at All Things Digital says Microsoft is close to offering Yahoo boatloads of money to acquire Yahoo’s search advertising.

Top executives at Microsoft–including SVP of the Online Audience Business Group Yusuf Mehdi, search head Satya Nadella and top digital exec Qi Lu, as well as others–have all flown down to Silicon Valley from their Redmond, Wash., HQ today to iron out the remaining issues, which seem to have to do with the deployment of technology.

Expect speculation to run rampant. Will they finally seal a deal? My guess is yes – but it’s only a guess. Microsoft has a lot of money burning a hole in its pocket, and Yahoo could use the infusion.