Brad Grey, the big-wheel talent manager, is “expected to be named head of Paramount Pictures as early as this week,” according to a Sunday story by L.A. Times reporters Claudia Eller and Sallie Hofmeister. The move “is likely to bring sweeping changes for the storied and recently troubled studio.” Sources said Grey was in the final stages of negotiations with Paramount parent Viacom Inc. to succeed studio chief Sherry Lansing, who announced two months ago that she would retire after 12 years on the job. Grey, the story noted, “has a relatively poor box-office track record, having produced such flops as City by the Sea, What Planet Are You From? and The Cable Guy.” However, the likely ex-chairman of Brillstein-Gray “does enjoy strong ties with talent and agents, whose frayed relationships with Paramount [Viacom honcho] Tom Freston [who hired Grey] is eager to mend.” Paramount production president Donald De Line is apparently on his way out, as he told Freston he’d be gone if he were passed over for the Paramount gig.