Vukovic has been left without a club after his move from Central Coast Mariners to Turkish Superlig side Konyaspor ended in tears when the club dumped him after signing a home-grown talent instead.

He is currently on his way home to the Central Coast after turning his life upside down to make the move to Europe.

His partner had given up her job and sold their furniture to join him in Turkey before he was given the bombshell news that the club would not be honouring his three year contract.

Now Phoenix are understood to be keen to bring him to Wellington to replace Crowther, although they have yet to officially approach Vukovic.

A spokesman admitted today: "The club is in the market for a replacement keeper.

"Several options have been identified and are being worked through by the coaching staff."

Crowther, 21, suffered a cracked rib in a collision with Dylan Macallister in training last week and has been ruled out for between eight to 10 weeks.

Assistant coach Jonathan Gould sat on the bench as Mark Paston's back up in the 3-3 draw with Gold Coast United last Friday night and will fill that role again against Central Coast Mariners as the Wellington club continue their search.

"Reece could be out a while especially with an injury like that," said coach Ricki Herbert. "So I think I'd probably prefer a little bit longer-term [signing]."

"We haven't got anybody yet, unfortunately. It's a difficult time to find a goalkeeper and we want the right one too.

"I don't want to rush it. I think it would have to be someone abroad … and it's just a matter of making sure we bring what we need to the club."

* Meanwhile Central Coast Mariners are chasing Konyaspor for their transfer fee for Vukovic for the keeper's aborted move.

Mariners CEO John McKay said:  “We have now entered into a formal dispute process through FIFA over Konyaspor’s failure to pay us the agreed transfer fee, of which we have been waiting on for some time, and which the Turkish club had originally assured we would receive by the end of last week."

He added: "Danny had been training with the club for over five weeks and had played in six friendlies, and by all accounts he had begun to fit in well there, so it’s certainly a shock to hear they’ve suddenly decided not to honour his contract.

"I understand it remains a dream of Danny’s to play at the top level in Europe despite this setback, and the Mariners will certainly be fully supportive of him in assisting where we can to aid his future playing prospects and with his own dispute with the Turkish club.”