THE FATE of a number of Ghanaian soccer stars to feature in the English Premiership hangs in the balance, as the closing date for player registration ends on Thursday, August 31, 2006.

Key players of the Black Stars, including skipper Stephen Appiah, Sulley Ali Muntari, Samuel Osei-Kuffour, and Shilla Illiasu, who caught the eyes of managers of the some English clubs, are eager to join their pals Michael Essien and John Paintsil in the Premiership.

However, with the exception of Asante Kotoko?s Illiasu, the current clubs of the others are prepared to release their players on huge price tags. Illiasu has had trials with Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers, but he is likely to be signed by the Rovers.

A number of clubs have been keeping tabs on Appiah following his impressive performances at the 2006 World Cup finals, in Germany over the summer. Fenerbahce has resisted all overtures for their star midfielder, but it could now face a fight to keep him after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League to Dinamo Kiev.

English Premiership campaigner, Portsmouth, has also lined up a move for Fenerbahce star?, Appiah, and hopes to take him to Fratton Park, in England. Portsmouth?s boss, Harry Redknapp, has watched the player in international actions, and is now ready to make a bid for his services after being priced out a move for Celtic's Stilian Petrov.

Pompey could face a fight for Appiah with several Spanish sides including Atletico Madrid thought to be interested in the former Juventus man. Portsmouth is on the brink of completing the signing of Appiah after making a formal offer to Fenerbahce last night to acquire the midfielder for ?6m.

Elsewhere, Muntari?s Italian club, Udinese is currently battling it out with Portsmouth, an English side, over the midfielder?s transfer fee which has been pegged at ?11 million.

Portsmouth?s boss, Harry Redknapp, has admitted that his outfit would not be willing to strike a deal at the ?11 million mooted by Udinese, but he did concede the club is working on bringing the 23-year-old to the South Coast.

"If they are asking ?11 million for him they will be waiting a long time," admitted Redknapp.

"Peter Storrie (Pompey chief executive) is working on the deal and I don't think that is the kind of figure he'll be working to.

"There is no doubt Muntari is a good young player and I like him a lot. We need strength like he has."

Osei-Kuffour is hoping to seal a move from Italian side, AS Roma before the transfer deadline, after being in the frame of Tottenham and Portsmouth.

The Roma defender appears to have no future in the Italian capital, following his omission from Giallorossi's pre-season reckoning. Osei-Kuffour?s coach, Luciano Spalletti has in the meantime given him the green light to get a new club.

"We are trying to find a new destination for Kuffour," said the former Bayern Munich star's agent Oscar Damiani.

Osei-Kuffour could be snatched by either Tottenham, or Portsmouth. Pompey have long been in the market for another central defender, in spite of the signing of Sol Campbell, while Spurs? boss, Martin Jol, has also identified the area as a weak point in his squad.

All things being equal, this Thursday would determine whether more Ghanaian icons would join the English Premiership this season, or not.