Culina joked with media when asked to confirm whether negotiations were in place to bring the player - said to be 22 year old Patrick da Silva - to the club.

But he did suggest that there was some truth to recent media reports.

“It’s important to get someone on board so that we’ve got different options and then it’s a matter of combining that player within our game plan,” he said.

“We are, if you believe what the newspapers are saying, in negotiations with a Brazilian.

"So if he arrives and it’s true what the papers are saying, we’ll have better options. Don’t ask me, the media knows best!”

When asked how much room remained under Sydney FC’s salary cap, Culina was blunt replying “none”.

But he added: "Let’s just wait and see if he comes.”

With just 10 days to go before Sydney FC meet the Central Coast Mariners in round one of the A-League, Culina is concerned his squad is behind in preparations as a number of his players are still affected by injury.

“It’s been very difficult for us," he said.

"We’ve been practicing various systems and formations since the start because we haven’t had the players available. We’ve had to play strikers as stoppers because of the numbers.”