“To date, the only Socceroos players who have come home have been just one step from retirement. With Jason you are looking at a player in his prime.

“Even at a big club like PSV, he still looks outstanding every time I see him. He would provide the gloss and class I am looking for.”

Culina aside, United, bankrolled by mining magnate Clive Palmer’s billions, are causing shockwaves around the league some seven months before they officially join the competition play bazaar for the 2009/10 campaign.

Melbourne Victory and fringe Socceroos defender Michael Thwaite has been the latest big name addition to the Coast’s inaugural line-up, a group of players looking increasingly likely to deliver on the outspoken Palmer’s promise of winning the A-League title in their maiden season.

Thwaite is another local player who’s elected to remain in Australia rather than return to Europe. The 25-year-old was loaned to Melbourne by Norwegian champions SK Brann and was expected to return to Scandinavia at the end of the current A-League campaign before joining the Gold Coast.

Livewire Queensland Roar striker Tahj Minniecon has also had his head turned by the Coast’s offer of becoming their inaugural under-23 marquee player. He will double his yearly salary by moving to the Roar’s nearest neighbours, but the switch does intensify the hostilities between the pair.

Earlier this season, Bleiberg was branded a clown and a liar by Queensland skipper Craig Moore after the colourful manager claimed he hadn’t tapped up a single member of Frank Farina’s current Roar squad.