Jol reveals Fulham close to midfielder signing

Fulham manager Martin Jol expects to sign a midfielder on a free transfer in the 'next couple of days' - but not Owen Hargreaves or Nigel Reo-Coker.

Jol's squad is light in midfield after both Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele left during the transfer window, while Mahamadou Diarra has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury.

And the manager says that he is close to bringing in a new face, although he was not willing to reveal who it is.

It was put to Jol that he may be talking about Hargreaves or Reo-Coker, both high-profile midfielders who are available on a free transfer.

But the Dutchman said: "I hope to sign a central midfielder in the next couple of days. He will be on a non-contract basis and from abroad.

"Diarra is out for about four weeks. He had some bone removed from his knee. It is not as bad as we thought."