Wolverhampton Wanderers hope to sign Brazilian former Middlesbrough midfielder Emerson from Atletico Madrid in time for a debut against champions Manchester United on Wednesday.
Promoted Wolves, who have shipped nine goals in two games in a dismal start to their first season in the premier league, said today that they were on the verge of signing the 31-year-old who spent two seasons at the Riverside.
Wolves, who lost 5-1 at Blackburn Rovers on their premier league debut 10 days ago and were crushed 4-0 at home by Charlton Athletic on Saturday, are also giving a trial to Czech former Newcastle United goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek. Manager Dave Jones said Emerson would bring much-needed solidity to his midfield.
"He is a quality player who has already worked at premier league level and his experience will be invaluable to us," Jones told the official club website.
Emerson played in Portugal for Belenenses and Porto before joining Middlesbrough in 1996, spending two seasons in England He moved on to Tenerife and later Deportivo Coruna in Spain before joining Atletico last year.
The Brazilian has since also played for Deportivo Coruna before joining Atletico in 2002. Srnicek, who has also played for Sheffield Wednesday in England and spent the last two seasons at Brescia in Italy's Serie A, has been training with Wolves this week.
"Pavel is training with us at the moment so we can have a look at him," Jones said.
"We need to strengthen the goalkeeping department following the loss of Carlos Kameni and with Matt (Murray) having picked up an injury last week."
First-choice keeper Murray was injured against Blackburn and Michael Oakes came in for the match against Charlton. Cameroonian Kameni was denied a work permit last week.