Wellington Phoenix are pursuing the veteran former Nigeria international striker Obafemi Martins.
The A-League side have been given approval by Football Federation Australia to use the league's marquee fund to bring him in.
Coach Mark Rudan has confirmed the club are hoping to sign the former Inter Milan and Newcastle United star.
Martins is currently contracted to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, but has been on the outer with Shenhua since tearing his hamstring in April.
He has scored 19 goals in 40 games in China, following a spell where he netted 40 times in 72 appearances for Seattle Sounders in the MLS.
Martins won the Serie A title with Inter in 2005/06 and helped them retain the Coppa Italia the same season.
He's proved something of a lucky talisman in cups at his various clubs, winning knockout competitions with Inter, Newcastle, Birmingham City, Rubin Kazan, Seattle and Shenhua.
Rudan said he hoped to sign him him before their first game of the season, depending on the state of his injury.
In Wellington's favour is that they have Martin's former Newcastle team-mate Steven Taylor already at the club.
The pair played together on Tyneside for three years, and Rudan said: "Obafemi looked after Taylor when he was a young kid coming through the ranks.
"He has a very strong rapport with him. He didn't know Steve was here before I mentioned it.
"They spoke last night, and Steven came back with some positive feedback himself. We're hopeful, but there is still a long way to go for anything to happen."
The coach said Martins was currently seeking a second opinion on his injury.
Wellington are 33/1 to win the Grand Final. The Phoenix are 2/1 to win their first game of the season against Newcastle, who are 6/5 with the draw 13/5.
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Wellington Phoenix are pursuing the veteran former Nigeria international striker Obafemi Martins.
The A-League side have been given approval by Football Federation Australia to use the league's marquee fund to bring him in.
Coach Mark Rudan has confirmed the club are hoping to sign the former Inter Milan and Newcastle United star.
Martins is currently contracted to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, but has been on the outer with Shenhua since tearing his hamstring in April.
He has scored 19 goals in 40 games in China, following a spell where he netted 40 times in 72 appearances for Seattle Sounders in the MLS.
Martins won the Serie A title with Inter in 2005/06 and helped them retain the Coppa Italia the same season.
He's proved something of a lucky talisman in cups at his various clubs, winning knockout competitions with Inter, Newcastle, Birmingham City, Rubin Kazan, Seattle and Shenhua.
Rudan said he hoped to sign him him before their first game of the season, depending on the state of his injury.
In Wellington's favour is that they have Martin's former Newcastle team-mate Steven Taylor already at the club.
The pair played together on Tyneside for three years, and Rudan said: "Obafemi looked after Taylor when he was a young kid coming through the ranks.
"He has a very strong rapport with him. He didn't know Steve was here before I mentioned it.
"They spoke last night, and Steven came back with some positive feedback himself. We're hopeful, but there is still a long way to go for anything to happen."
The coach said Martins was currently seeking a second opinion on his injury.
Wellington are 33/1 to win the Grand Final. The Phoenix are 2/1 to win their first game of the season against Newcastle, who are 6/5 with the draw 13/5.
Source: bet365.com