Gold Coast United want a definitive answer from Socceroos star Jason Culina on a $1.4 million a year offer this weekend after sealing the signature of prized marksman Shane Smeltz for 2009.
Negotiations with the 27-year-old PSV Eindhoven midfielder have reached a critical phase and Uniteds billionaire boss Clive Palmer is keen to know whether his would-be marquee man has accepted a contract that comes gift-wrapped with the club captaincy.
Palmer held initial talks with PSVs pocket powerhouse when the Socceroos were in Brisbane for last week's World Cup qualifier against Qatar.
United's quest to net Culina could be thwarted by a possible switch instead to the English Premier League, once his contract in the Netherlands expires in June, amid concerns from national coach Pim Verbeek that a switch to the A-League could be detrimental to his stature and impact on his preparedness for the 2010 World Cup assuming Australia qualify.
With the A-League season finishing at least three months before the start of the World Cup, United are considering loaning Culina to Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan FC, should he sign.
The capture of Smeltz, who grew up on the Gold Coast, is a major coup.
The Wellington Phoenix forward has hit the target six times already this season, having scored nine in 19 matches in his debut campaign for the Kiwi club last season.
Plans to team the 27-year-old marksman with Hartlepool-based Australian Joel Porter when United join the A-League next season are in place although the club has refused to confirm Smeltzs signing.
However, it's believed the New Zealand international, who also had stints in England with AFC Wimbledon and Mansfield Town, inked a deal with United three weeks ago.
He was hoping to keep his decision under wraps with Phoenix keen to resign him and Asian Champions League finalists Adelaide United also desperate to claim his signature.
Smeltz has struck 11 goals in just 21 appearances for his country and could find himself at the 2010 World Cup should the All Whites beat the fifth-placed Asian team in a play-off for the right to play at South Africa.
United, meanwhile, are continuing to track Socceroos defender Chris Coyne, who has two years left on his deal with third tier English outfit Colchester United but has fallen out of favour and is keen to return home.
