Korean midfielder Cho Won-hee and English Premier League (EPL) club Wigan Athletic look set to strike a deal that will bring an end to the international star's quest for a big-money move to Europe.

``Everything is done. The work permit will be issued on Thursday or Friday. We will sign with Wigan on Saturday or Sunday if Cho gets the permit,'' the player's agent Kim Dong-ho, manager of Tenplus Sports Co., told The Korea Times, Wednesday.

``We heard that Wigan was looking for a midfielder. They need a good midfielder, and we need a big league ― that made the deal possible,'' he added.

The club confirmed via its Web Site, Tuesday, that it would sign Cho next week. The ``Latics'' said that Cho had been training with the club for several days at its JJB Stadium home.

``We have been really impressed with him as a player and a person,'' manager Steve Bruce said.

``We can sign him as he is not under contract with any club,'' he added.

Influential English daily newspaper The Sun reported on the deal on its Web site, Wednesday.

``Everything has been agreed and Cho will sign for Wigan once a work permit has been granted,'' it said, quoting a Wigan insider.

Cho, 25, is out of contract after a spell with K-League side Suwon BlueWings.

Wigan, based in the northwest of England, is currently ranked 7th in the EPL.

Among the other Koreans plying their trade in the EPL are Park Ji-sung of Manchester United and Kim Do-heon of West Bromwich Albion.

Cho had tried to win a contract at French league side AS Monaco, but a non-European player quota system curtailed his dream.

He then turned his eye to England, with no limitation rule in the EPL ― subject to the granting of a work permit.

Cho debuted in the K-League in 2002 with Ulsan Hyundai. He moved to BlueWings in 2005 after completing his military service in Gwangju Sangmu from 2003 to 2005. Sangmu is a military football team.

His career blossomed at the BlueWings from 2005 to 2008. He scored a goal in a friendly match for the national against Iran in Seoul in Oct. 2005. He played for Korea at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany as well as the Doha Asian Games the same year in Doha, Qatar. He also appeared at the East Asian Football Association Championship in February 2008 in Chongqing, China.

He scored one goal in 25 appearances for Suwon BlueWings last season.

BlueWings manager Cha Bum-kun made one last desperate attempt, Tuesday, to tempt Cho back to the K-League by saying he was irreplaceable, but was ultimately unsuccessful.