Timmy Cahill Is A Strong Chance Of Signing For Melbourne City

In what will surely be one of the biggest signings in A-League history, Australian footballing legend Timmy Cahill looks set to sign with Melbourne City ahead of next season.

The former English Premier League star for Everton and hero of three successful Australian World Cup campaigns turned down a contract extension with current club Huangzhou Greentown paving the way for a move to Melbourne City.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chief executive, David Gallop was quick to meet with Cahill's management, as well as speaking to the man himself ahead of the decision.

"Positive talks [are] ongoing with Tim," Gallop said.

"I met with his manager yesterday, I spoke to Tim last night. It's not appropriate to say more than positive talks are ongoing.

"I've said before we'd love to have Tim playing in the A-League, I believe it's the right time in his career."

The potential deal is thought to be worth up to $4 million a season and will fit outside Melbourne City's salary cap and marquee spots under the FFA's new 'Guest Player' scheme.

Cahill, who grew up in working-class Western Sydney and is of Samoan-Irish-Australian heritage started his career with Sydney Olympic and later Sydney United. With his parents' permission he then travelled to the UK chasing a berth in the Premier League, signing for second division club Millwall where he played an instrumental role in the club's groundbreaking first ever FA Cup final in 2004 (lost 3-0 to Manchester United).

He was Everton's top goalscorer in his first season in the Premier League though it were his heroics for the national team over the course of three successive World Cup Finals campaigns that installed him as a national sporting hero. Timmy slotted Australia's first ever goal in the World Cup Finals against Japan in 2006 before immortalising himself in Australian sporting folklore with his second half screamer.

Should he sign with Melbourne City it will be the first time Cahill has played in the new look national league. An announcement on his future is expected shortly.