MELBOURNE City appears to have won a local battle for the prized signature of Socceroos defender Alex Wilkinson.

A battle erupted yesterday between the Melbourne clubs after City pitched an offer to uncontracted Wilkinson after the exit of midfielder Erik Paartalu was confirmed, while Melbourne Victory is also understood to have made a late play.

Wilkinson, 31, quit South Korean champion Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — where Paartalu has coincidentally just signed — in December after three seasons there and was leaning towards an Asian move as A-League clubs showed lukewarm interest.

But injuries, shock moves and the end of the A-League transfer window, which closed at midnight last night, resulted in sudden, late interest.

Wilkinson, who is currently in Sydney, is understood to have agreed terms with City with an announcement imminent.

The terms of the contract are unclear, though Wilkinson was open to a short-term deal until the end of the season, for about $100,000, or an 18-month deal where he would stand to earn over $450,000.

“I want to get it sorted as soon as possible. The (Socceroos) game is coming up in March and you know how Ange (Postecoglou) is on his policy with players playing regularly and training regularly, so to get it sorted as quickly as possible is a priority,’’ Wilkinson said a fortnight ago.

City has the salary cap and squad room to fit in Wilkinson and while he would not be a straight replacement for defensive midfielder Paartalu, City coach John van’t Schip is concerned with centre backs Patrick Kisnorbo (Achilles) out for a week, Aaron ­Hughes (soreness) missing last week and Connor Chapman (knee) out until March.

Recent swap signing Osama Malik, who came from Adelaide United for Stefan Mauk, is likely to be pushed into midfield rather than play in defence and Jacob Melling, who has been deployed as a stopper in recent weeks, is naturally a midfielder.

As revealed by the Herald Sun yesterday, City yesterday confirmed Paartalu’s ­release to Jeonbuk.

Newcastle Jets finally released David Carney, 32, to go to Sydney FC yesterday, but got nothing in exchange.

Negotiations with former Jets player Andrew Hoole continued until yesterday afternoon but the Olyroo decided to stay at Sydney FC.

Carney, whose Jets contract expired at the end of the season, was eager to rejoin former Socceroos mentor Graham ­Arnold and was tempted by the extra security of an 18-month deal.