Fulham boss Martin Jol hopes to complete the signing of Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega on a free transfer this week.

The Londoners appear to have beaten off competition from Everton – who have dropped out of the race altogether – Aston Villla and Stoke to sign the Colombian forward. Jol made a concerted effort to sign Rodallega after missing out on Pavel Pogrebnyak, who chose to join Reading instead of turning his successful Craven Cottage loan spell into a permanent move.

Rodallega is out of contract at Wigan this summer having scored 24 goals in 117 appearances in four seasons at the JJB Stadium.