New Zealand soccer captain Ryan Nelsen is closer to clinching a contract with English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.
The defender, 27, is understood to be in Blackburn now, The Press newspaper reported today.
He could be free to sign for Blackburn within two weeks once his Commonwealth holiday work visa is confirmed.
Nelsen does not qualify for a Home Office work permit, because he does not have a parent or grandparent from a European Union country, and the All Whites are no longer in the top 70 nations on Fifa's official rankings list.
Neither Nelsen nor his American agent Lyle Yorks will comment until the deal is completed.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has been busy since the transfer window opened on January 1.
He has signed South Africa captain and central defender Aaron Mokoena from Belgian club Racing Genk.
But American defender Jonathan Spector, 18, who was to join Blackburn for the rest of the season on loan from Manchester United, has been recalled by manager Alex Ferguson after an injury crisis at Old Trafford.
Blackburn are now bidding to buy Welsh midfielder Robbie Savage from Birmingham City.
- NZPA
Soccer: Nelsen inches closer to Premier League contract
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