By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
FC Seoul midfielder Lee Chung-yong is set to join the English Premier League, British local media reported Tuesday.
The Bolton News, a regional newspaper in England reported the news quoting Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson.
``We are really close to getting three transfers sorted, and we need them, because this squad is nowhere near strong enough,'' Megson told the newspaper.
The News reported that the three players are FC Seoul winger Lee Chung-yong as well as Aston Villa defender Zat Knight and Swansea midfielder Ferrie Bodde.
The paper introduced Lee as ``one of Asia's brightest prospects.''
FC Seoul has also confirmed it had received an offer from the EPL side.
``We got an offer from Bolton about Lee's transfer. However, it is not a good moment to talk about it,'' an FC Seoul official said.
The Bolton News reported that the deal was almost done saying ``concerns over work permits have now subsided, and personal terms are being discussed.''
Lee debuted in the K-League with the Seoul-based club in 2004. He has scored two goals and set up four assists in 14 appearances this season.
Bolton Wanderers is based in Horwich, in Greater Manchester, and was ranked 13th at 11-8-19 among 20 clubs in the 2008-09 season.
If Lee joins the EPL club, the 21-year-old national team player becomes the seventh Korean to play in the league.
Currently three Koreans are in the top division _ Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, Wigan Athletic midfielder Cho Won-hee and Fullham midfielder Seol Ki-hyeon.