American defender Oguchi Onyewu is believed to be closing in on a move to Premiership club Fulham.

The Cottagers already have a strong USA contingent with Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride in their ranks and they now look set to add to that.

New England Revolution winger Clint Dempsey is awaiting a work-permit for his move to the Premiership and fellow countryman Onyewu looks set to follow.

Onyewu saw a summer move to England collapse when Middlesbrough pulled the plug on a post World Cup deal, but Fulham always maintained an interest in the 24-year-old and they have now made their move.

Standard Liege made an agreement with Onyewu in August that they would not stand in his way during this transfer window after a bid from Real Madrid was snubbed because it came too late for them to find a replacement.

A new bid from the Spanish giants has failed to materialise and Fulham now look set to seal a deal for the central defender known as ‘Gooch’.

“I know the agreement which we made in August with Gooch, as I was the technical director,” coach Michael Preud’homme told HLN.

Onyewu is now reported to be undergoing a medical in West London with a view to sealing a move to Craven Cottage in the near future.