SAM Allardyce is set to bring a successful end to his 18-month chase for the signature of Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

The German international's on-off Reebok switch is back on.

Hamann had stalled on the deal after earlier telling Wanderers he was ready to cut his Anfield ties.

But Reebok chiefs refused to take "no" for an answer and, careful not to fuel speculation that they were threatening legal action against the player, they have been working hard behind the scenes to keep the deal alive.

Now Allardyce appears to have got his man.

Hamann is reported in Germany as saying: "I want to have another chance for a two or three-year contract and I also want to play every week."

That is something Liverpool can no longer guarantee the 32-year-old former Bayern Munich ace who cost a record £8 million when he signed from Newcastle in 1999.

Wanderers made their first move for the German international in January last year, when they tried to sign him on loan. Five months later, a permanent transfer was in the offing until he featured in Liverpool's dramatic Champions League triumph over AC Milan and secured a new contract. Wanderers thought their persistence had paid off earlier this month when terms were agreed and Hamann was believed to have put pen to paper, before having a change of heart. Now he finally appears to have made up his mind.

Allardyce flew back from Germany yesterday, where he is working as a pundit on ITV's World Cup panel, to supervise a number of his squad, including El-Hadji Diouf, who reported for training ahead of next Monday's official return date.

Hidetoshi Nakata, back on Fiorentina's books after ending his Wanderers loan stint, has been tipped to join German club, Hertha Berlin.