Niemi set to seal Fulham deal

Antti Niemi has passed a medical at Fulham and is on the verge of completing his £1m (€1.46m)-plus move from Coca-Cola Championship side Southampton.

The 33-year-old Finnish goalkeeper is set to be unveiled as Fulham’s new number one by Cottagers manager Chris Coleman later today.

“We’re nearly there,” Niemi’s agent Richard Cody told PA Sport. “All being well it will be completed this afternoon.”

Gordon Strachan took Niemi to the south coast from Scottish side Hearts for £2m (€2.9m) three-and-a-half years ago.

He made 123 appearances for Saints but was thought to be unhappy with the axing of goalkeeping coach David Coles when George Burley took over at St Mary’s last month.

Niemi is expected to become Coleman’s first-choice keeper ahead of Tony Warner.

Burley is likely to use the money to strengthen his squad elsewhere, having been impressed by Niemi’s understudy Paul Smith.

He has already brought in Poland Under-21 goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, who was on the bench behind Smith during Saturday’s FA Cup win over MK Dons.