Brillante close to sealing overseas move as Sydney wait in the wings

Fringe Socceroos midfielder Josh Brillante is looking to seal a long-anticipated second bite at the overseas cherry with renewed interest from Korea Republic and an offer on the table from Saudi Arabia.

Sydney FC - Brillante’s home for the past three seasons - have also not given up hope of re-signing the off-contract 26-year-old.

However a club source said the newly-minted A-League champions were already active in the market place seeking a replacement, in the expectation that Brillante will move to Asia or the Middle East.

A member of the experimental Socceroos squad which lost 1-0 to Korea Republic in a friendly international in Busan earlier this month, Brillante is awaiting the July 1 opening of the K-League transfer window with keen interest.

He almost joined K1's Pohang Steelers back in March, only for the deal to fall over at the eleventh hour - much to his frustration.

However his management are eyeing Korea again amid solid interest from an unnamed club from the Saudi Pro League.

The Kingdom is already home to compatriots Brad Jones, Milos Degenek, Matt Jurman, Rhys Williams and Jack Duncan.

Capped five times by his country, Brillante’s first off-shore tilt took him to Serie A club Fiorentina back in 2014, for whom he made just two appearances before subsequent loan spells at Empoli and Como.

A return to the A-League followed, with the one time Gold Coast United and Newcastle Jets midfielder making 79 appearances for the Sky Blues before his contract expired at season’s end.