Mariners deny Sterjovski deal

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6 July 2012-SBS

Nothing concrete yet... Sterjovski will be an A-League player again shortly (Getty)

Central Coast Mariners denied a report that it has signed ex-Australia international forward Mile Sterjovski, after his release from Chinese Super League side Dalian Aerbin.

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The 33-year-old is back in Australia after cutting short his stint in China and was touted as having agreed a one-year deal with an option to extend for a second season.

While admitting the Mariners are interested in Sterjovski, the club's director of football Lawrie McKinna said a deal was not done.

"It's not true. Mile hasn't signed," McKinna told TWG.

"We have one spot left in our squad for a striker and that should be confirmed within a week."

Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers have been linked with Sterjovski in recent days as the ex-Socceroos attacker settles back to life in the A-League.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold is keen to add to his attacking stocks after losing Matt Simon, last January to Korea's Chunnam Dragons, and his replacement John Sutton's loan return to Hearts.

Sterjovski joined Dalian Aerbin from Perth Glory in late February and played 15 times for the mid-table side.

Meanwhile, Mariners captain Alex Wilkinson could be the latest Aussie to play his trade in Korea with talks at and early stage with a K-League club.