AS REGULAR FourFourTwo readers know, Gold Coast United head coach Miron Bleiberg is currently scouting for players in Brazil, en route to Europe.

The big question for fans and opponents alike is whether he'll come back with a contract for Jason Culina. Unfortunately I cannot confirm that yet, but I can say he will be scouting for talent in Holland and the results could be very interesting indeed.

One player Bleiberg definitely WILL be watching is Joel Porter at Hartlepool, a crowd favourite who's entry to the A-League would be headline news. Despite persistent rumours, however, fellow European stars Chris Coyne and Brett Holman are not currently on Bleiberg's short list.

In Brazil, Bleiberg has "a couple of specific targets", but he is also running a keen eye over many others. One player he won't be watching is former Wellington Phoenix striker Felipe, who was contracted to the failed Gold Coast Galaxy bid for the 2008/09 season. The situation has now changed, and the club has confirmed that a deal will not be resurrected.

Back home, there's renewed speculation that Newcastle's Adam Griffiths has confirmed a deal with the Gold Coast, despite his previous heated denials. Griffiths was surprised to find himself dropped to the Jet's youth team this week by frustrated coach Gary van Egmond, and that may have precipitated his announcement. The Gold Coast club could not confirm the story when I spoke with them, but it sounds like a done deal to me.

Meanwhile the club has confirmed that Brendan Santalab, who recently signed with North Queensland from Sydney FC, was not on Bleiberg's radar and was never approached. Robbie Kruse, whose future has been shrouded in speculation, is also not a target.

But the Gold Coast outfit has confirmed very serious interest in 24-year-old Trent Waterson, a former South Melbourne player who is currently with the Oakleigh Cannons in the VPL, and 19-year-old goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson, a Young Socceroo who won the Sunshine Coast Fire's player of the year award after conceding just 11 goals in 18 games.

Expect to hear more from Bleiberg when he gets home from the trip, and expect to hear more official news from the Gold Coast club sometime late next month. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Gold Coast football fans!