Football
AAP 8y

Western Sydney Wanderers' Dario Vidosic set to join Liaoning Whowin

Dario Vidosic is set to join the list of departing Western Sydney Wanderers attackers, with the Australian marquee man on the verge of signing for Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin.

It's understood Vidosic will leave the Wanderers imminently despite having one year remaining on his two-year contract.

All going well, the 29-year-old is likely to link up with fellow Australia internationals James Troisi and Michael Thwaite at Liaoning, on a deal reportedly worth more than AU$1 million over 18 months.

He would join an increasing Australian cohort on lucrative contracts in China, where Socceroos including Tim Cahill, Apostolos Giannou, Matt Spiranovic, Ryan McGowan and Trent Sainsbury are also based.

Vidosic made 28 A-League appearances last season including netting the extra-time winner in the Wanderers' historic 5-4 semifinal comeback win over Brisbane, and also came off the bench in last month's 3-1 Grand Final loss to Adelaide.

His impending exit will be the latest in a string of players to leave Tony Popovic's set-up in the offseason, including key forwards.

Also gone is foundation player, fan favourite and all-time leading goal-scorer Mark Bridge to the Thai Premier League, while Dutch flyer Romeo Castelen was released at the end of his contract.

Additionally, the club will have the option of filling a second marquee spot following the release of failed Italian striker Federico Piovaccari, who was dropped from coach Tony Popovic's squad entirely after just 12 rounds.

A prolific goal-scorer will therefore be a high priority, and though soon-to-be free agent Cahill is an obvious option, it's believed that the veteran Socceroo is unlikely to don the red and black.

One factor is that Cahill would probably miss numerous matches due to international commitments for the Socceroos World Cup qualifiers, including Western Sydney's potential biggest-drawing match of the season -- a blockbuster opening-round Sydney derby at ANZ Stadium.

Key Spaniards, midfielder Andreu and defender Alberto, were also released at the end of the season, while Steve Lustica has joined from Brisbane Roar to help plug the midfield gap.

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