Football
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Western Sydney Wanderers' Nikolai Topor-Stanley set for overseas move

Western Sydney Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley is likely to have played his final A-League game for the club with the defender on the verge of a move overseas.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic revealed on Thursday that Topor-Stanley has been ruled out of Friday's grand final rematch with Adelaide United to allow him to negotiate a deal.

"The situation with Nikolai has changed this morning where he's got an opportunity possibly overseas that we're allowing him to have a look at today and possibly pursue," Popovic said before training at Blacktown on Thursday.

"He won't be available for tomorrow but we've got Jonathan [Aspropotamitis] and Brendan Hamill that are ready to step in."

Rumours of Topor-Stanley being on the outer at the Wanderers had been circling all winter, with the 31-year-old defender believed to have been offered to rival A-League clubs in August.

Popovic declined to expand any more on the situation, however is confident the matter will be finalised by the weekend.

Asked if the loss of the club's record-holder for most appearances would be a blow to their season, Popovic revealed the veteran wasn't an automatic selection against the Reds anyway.

"We've built a squad that we feel that anyone can play and there was no guarantee Nikolai was playing tomorrow," he said.

Topor-Stanley's spot at the Wanderers appeared on borrowed time after the club acquired three centre-backs over the offseason, including former Socceroo Robert Cornthwaite, Jack Clisby and Spanish import Aritz Borda.

Highly regarded youngster Aspropoatimits and Hamill remain from last season, with one of the pair likely to partner Cornthwaite against the Reds following last week's 4-0 loss to Sydney FC.

"That'll take time to gel. Three of the back four were different from last year. We had a new back four at the start of last season which took time to gel [too]," Popovic said.

Topor-Stanley's final act for the club is set to be his mindless red card dismissal for pulling down Melbourne City star Bruno Fornaroli in the FFA Cup last month.

His departure will leave Shannon Cole as the final foundation player since the club's inaugural season in 2012-13.

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