Fulham are set to pip relegation rivals West Ham to steal Steve Sidwell.
Sidwell, 28, leaves Aston Villa this month as the Midlands club seeks to cut their £70million wage bill.
He has already held talks with bottom club West Ham, where he had a medical, and has since discussed going to struggling Wolves on loan.
Sidwell was even in the crowd at Molineux on Wednesday as Wolves beat Chelsea 1-0.
But the star has decided against staying in the Midlands as his family home is in south-west London. And Fulham are now firm favourites to sign the goal-scoring midfielder on a knock-down deal.
MirrorSport revealed in June that Fulham agreed a £2million fee with Villa for Sidwell - but the move was aborted when boss Roy Hodgson left.
It has now been resurrected by successor Mark Hughes for a fraction of the cost because Sidwell's £48,000-a-week contract is up in the summer.
Sidwell cost Villa £5m in July 2008, from Chelsea, but made only 24 league starts for the club.