Vukovic set for Turkish move

Vukovic, 25, arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to complete the formalities of his transfer, sealed by an undisclosed fee paid to the Mariners.

The move will see Vukovic anointed as the club’s first choice, making him along with Fulham’s Schwarzer, the only Australian custodian playing in the top division of his chosen domestic league in Europe.

And Vukovic, who made 104 appearances for the Mariners, sees the move as the perfect springboard into the reckoning for January’s Asian Cup finals in Qatar with Schwarzer, 37, thought to be seriously considering quitting the international scene as part of a post-World Cup spate of retirements.

After what is believed to be a three-year deal being ratified on Wednesday, Vukovic's Australian-based agent Dragan Jevtic said: "This is a great opportunity for Danny to really press his claims for a Socceroos place down the track.

"There’s obviously lots of competition with Mark Schwarzer still not deciding what he will do and also Brad Jones (Middlesbrough) and Adam Federici (Reading) in the frame.

"But Danny will be playing first team football in a league that’s getting stronger all the time and playing against big teams likes Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, so the chance for him to get noticed will be there if he does well.

"He’ll also be playing in the same competition as the likes of Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell (if he re-signs for Gala) and Mile Jedinak, so he’s in pretty good company there.

Vukovic has yet to make a senior appearance for the Socceroos, having made 18 appearances for the Olyroos.

"Danny is in Turkey now and he will have a medical, so assuming that goes well, he will be free to move on with the next phase of his career and he’s excited by it."

A spokesman from Central Coast Mariners confirmed the club is in discussions with the Turkish side but declined to expand on the nature of the deal.