Dundee United move for goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima

Dundee United are closing in on a move to sign Japanese World Cup goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Standard Liege in the summer but United boss Mixu Paatelainen will have to wait for him to be awarded a work permit before he can complete his first deal since replacing Jackie McNamara last month.

However, that should still be a mere formality for a player who started all three of Japan's group games during last year's World Cup in Brazil and has won 72 caps for his country.

Kawashima was at Tannadice on Saturday to watch the home side beat Ross County 1-0 - their first win since August.

However, he has little chance of featuring against Hibernian in the League Cup quarter-final on Wednesday or in Saturday's Premiership clash with Aberdeen, as the club waits for the relevant paperwork to be processed.

Paatelainen told The Courier:  "He's a seasoned professional with plenty caps - over 70 caps for Japan. He's been to major tournaments. It would be nice if there was a possibility of Eiji joining us because he would help our young goalkeepers with his experience.

"We've agreed everything with him but obviously we can't sign the contract until the work permit issue has been solved. I don't know how long it takes.

"There's no automatic starting place for anybody. Of course, we want competition for any position we have. Certainly, Eiji will strengthen that competition in the goalkeeper's position.

"It's not every day that that calibre of player is out of contract at this time of year but, luckily for us, that's the situation. Looking forward to working with him, hopefully."

United have struggled to fill the number one slot since former first-choice stopper Radoslaw Cierzniak returned to his homeland to sign for Polish outfit Wisla Krakow in the summer.