Tom Rogic ... Reading looming as likely UK destination. Source: News Limited - NEWS.com.au

Tom Rogic ... Reading looming as likely UK destination. Source: News Limited

Central Coast Mariners prodigy Tom Rogic could be playing in the Barclays Premier League within weeks as contract talks with Reading near finalisation.

And Rogic could be joined in the UK by Mariners teammate Mat Ryan, who is close to signing with nPower Championship club Derby County.

Though both deals are subject to being granted work permits, it's believed Derby and Reading are confident of success given both players' recent club and Socceroos success.

It is understood that transfer fees and personal terms have been agreed in principle.

It means Rogic could be playing in the EPL just 12 months after signing his first professional contract, though Reading is locked in a relegation battle.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	14	9	3	2	13	30
2	Adelaide	14	9	1	4	7	28
3	Victory	13	7	2	4	-1	23
4	Western Sydney	13	6	2	5	5	20
5	Perth	14	5	3	6	2	18
6	Wellington	13	4	4	5	0	16
7	Newcastle	13	5	1	7	-8	16
8	Brisbane	13	4	2	7	0	14
9	Sydney	14	4	1	9	-14	13
10	Heart	13	3	3	7	-4	12

Derby are 11th in the Championship, six points off the playoff places.

The sales will leave a gaping hole in the Mariners' first XI for the second half of the season, with the team topping the table heading into the New Year's fixtures.

But the finances of the Gosford club mean it can't afford to turn down the deals because the new TV deal money is not on tap until next July.

Rogic would have joined Reading 13 months ago after impressing at the Nike Academy in the UK, but had no professional experience to convince the UK immigration authorities.

Though he has not played in the usually requisite 75 per cent of Socceroos games over the past year, he has shown in a year at the Mariners, his Olyroo experience and four caps for the national team that he can be presented as a special case for a permit.

Ryan has more than two years of experience for the Mariners as first-choice keeper plus several Socceroos call-ups, and will be presented as an established first-team prospect for Derby, who will not block the path of developing English players.

Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull confirmed both deals were on the table, which he said was testament to the club's youth production line.

"Yes, both clubs are interested, and it once again shows what the Mariners are about and the development we do," he said.

"It proves why we're youth league champions and A-League premiers, and why we're the club of choice for the best young talent."

Nonetheless, it presents another nightmare for coach Graham Arnold. He has lost a clutch of senior players over the past year, including Matt Simon, Rostyn Griffiths and captain Alex Wilkinson. The chances of finding replacements are meagre at this time of the season.

Rogic sat out the New Year's Eve home game against Perth after being hit with a three-match ban for his two-footed tackle on Sydney FC's Rhyan Grant last week at the end of the Mariners' 1-0 loss at Allianz Stadium.

He is due to return on January 19 against Newcastle in the F3 derby, but may have played his last game for the Mariners if the deal is signed by then.