[goldenHuddlestone]

Ternana midfielder Luis Jimenez is close to ending his legal fight with the Serie C outfit and a January move beckons.

The 22-year-old is contracted to the Rossoverdi until 2010, but he wanted his deal rescinded in September after his proposed summer move to Lazio collapsed just minutes before the window closed.

The player believed his Ternana contract was no longer valid following their relegation, but his club disputed that claim and the player has taken legal action.

The third and final hearing is scheduled for January 15 and it now seems likely that Jimenez will be sent out on a loan deal until June 2008, with Inter, Roma and Palermo interested in his services.

According to reports, the midfielder’s buy-out clause could be set at £7.8m and Ternana would grant him a £700,000 per-season contract if his new side were not to invoke that clause.

Jimenez, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Fiorentina, has allegedly already been in contact with Inter’s technical director Marco Branca.

The Nerazzurri believe the player could do well in Serie A as an alternative to Luis Figo and Dejan Stankovic, having impressed in the 19 matches played with the Viola last term.