COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids are close to signing Honduran international and former Wigan Athletic midfielder Hendry Thomas, MLSsoccer.com has learned.

According to a source close to the negotiations, Thomas and his agent were due to arrive in Denver late Saturday night. The 27-year-old – who played for Honduras at the 2010 World Cup and at last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup – is expected to complete a deal to help Colorado’s struggling defense, which has been without tough-tackling holding midfielder Pablo Mastroeni since March.

The signing would mark the Rapids’ most significant acquisition of the season. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound Thomas featured in 55 matches for English Premier League club Wigan through all competitions between 2009 and 2012 and has 38 caps for the Honduran national team since debuting for los Catrachos in 2005.

He was released by Wigan last month and is currently out of contract.

The Rapids declined to comment directly on the Thomas report, but club president Tim Hinchey announced an impending signing late Thursday night on Twitter.

Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.