Waterford manager John Sheridan expects Daryl Murphy to sign for the club and believes the Republic of Ireland international would be a "massive" addition to the team.
The 37-year-old is a free agent after leaving Bolton Wanderers in the wake of relegation to League Two, and has been linked with a return to his native Waterford for family reasons for a number of weeks.
Newly-appointed Waterford manager Sheridan has targeted securing European football in the remainder of the SSE Airtricity League season and a tilt at securing the league title while at the RSC, and remains optimistic that Murphy will arrive shortly.
"Hopefully it will get over the line, he's injured at the minute with a calf injury, but he wants to come and we want to sign him," he told RTÉ Sport.
"Hopefully that will be sorted out and he would be massive player to have out on the pitch."
Murphy left the Blues in May 2005 to join Sunderland, making his Premier League debut five months later.
The forward subsequently joined Celtic, while three loan moves at Ipswich Town preceded a permanent move to Portman Road in 2013. His 27 goals for the club earned him the Championship Golden Boot in 2015.
Spells at Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Bolton followed and the last of his 33 international caps came in the harrowing 5-1 World Cup play-off defeat at home to Denmark three years ago.
Waterford resume their League of Ireland campaign at home to Shelbourne tomorrow and Sheridan is bullish over what the club can achieve.
Four of their first five games are on the road, but the former Republic of Ireland international has his eyes on leading the chasing pack behind the 'big two’ in the league.
It's a new era for @WaterfordFCie under former Republic of Ireland midfielder John Sheridan, reports @Corktod #RTESoccer #RTESport pic.twitter.com/EYlG9Uf7PX
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 30, 2020
"We want to be positive and we want to have a successful season of being around the top area.
"It’s difficult times, but everyone is in the same boat. It’s difficult getting players, but it’s hard for them, and no supporters, but there are no excuses. We have to be as strong as we can for the first game.
"People tell me Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers are the strongest, but anyone behind them is probably competing for that third spot.
"Anyone in the league can achieve that, and we have to and we have to believe that we can be in and around that area."
Watch Dundalk v St Pat's live this Friday on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 7.30pm
