Hours before the Socceroos tackle the UAE in the Asian Cup, a Gulf newspaper has claimed the green and gold talisman is close to moving to the Middle East

A potential distraction has emerged hours before Australia's Asian Cup semi-final against the United Arab Emirates, with Al Wahda claiming to have agreed a 'tentative deal' to sign Tim Cahill.

The Socceroos, led by their leading scorer at the tournament Cahill, will do battle with the UAE in Newcastle on Tuesday night for the right to face South Korea in the final on Saturday.

There could be a fascinating subplot at play during the contest at Hunter Stadium, with an Abu Dhabi newspaper claiming an Arabian Gulf League side are close to luring the veteran from the New York Red Bulls to the Middle East.

"Cahill's performance at the Asian Cup and the World Cup last year has really caught the eye of the Wahda top management and we can say a tentative deal is in place," The National quoted an unnamed club source as saying.

"There is nothing formal yet though and we will have to wait until the end of the Asian Cup before a formal deal is signed."

Cahill, who has one year remaining on his New York Red Bulls contract, is expected to leave Major League Soccer before the 2015 season begins in North America.

He has previously been linked with a return to the UK, where he starred for Millwall and Everton, as well as possible high-profile deal to appear in the A-League.

NO1 FOR FOOTBALL - JOIN NOW