Rhodes: I'm staying at Rovers

Rhodes: I'm staying at Rovers

Published Jul. 5, 2013 9:15 a.m. ET

Sky Sports understands Wigan are poised to sign former West Brom striker Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Fortune, 32, is available on a free transfer after seeing out his contract at the Hawthorns earlier this summer.

Wigan boss Owen Coyle has been busy in the transfer market in the last few weeks and he is close to making Fortune his latest signing at the DW Stadium.

Fortune is understood to have agreed terms on a two-year deal and passed a medical with the Championship side.

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The Frenchman scored two goals in 23 appearances for West Brom last season, but Coyle sees him as an ideal replacement for Everton and Newcastle target Arouna Kone.

The 24-year-old Corinthians star has been linked with a move to Spurs for several months and it appears he is now on the verge of completing a £17million move to London.

Paulinho, who has 17 international caps to his name and impressed throughout Brazil's recent Confederations Cup success, will become Andre Villas-Boas' first summer recruit as he looks to reshape his squad ahead of a push for a top-four place in the Barclays Premier League next season.

The player revealed during the tournament in his native country that a bid from Spurs to seal his signature had been lodged and that north London was his most likely destination.

Inter Milan and Real Madrid were also believed to be interested in a move for the former Bragantino midfielder, who scored twice during the Confederations Cup, following on from his equalising goal in Brazil's 2-2 draw with England last month.

If the medical goes without a hitch, Paulinho could be announced as a Tottenham player later on Friday.

The Scotland striker was a big success in his first season at Ewood Park, scoring 28 goals despite a difficult season for the Lancashire club.

A turbulent 18 months has seen Rovers relegated from the Premier League and then have four managers in a single season - but Rhodes believes the good times are now just around the corner.

"I'm very settled, it's a terrific football club as you can see here - tremendous fans, everything about it," Rhodes told Sky Sports News.

"I enjoyed a good year last year, everyone was fantastic with me so - for as long as I'm welcome - I'm a Blackburn Rovers player."

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