O'Donovan is set to join Fulham

The 21-year-old is set to join the Premier League club for a fee that reports claim could rise to �530,000.

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez said the fee was "not a lot of money in Premiership terms but a lot of money in non-Premiership terms".

Sanchez added: "He has done very well at Cork and he will be going back there on loan until the end of their season. He's a young player for the future."

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The Eircom Premier team have previously confirmed that a verbal agreement had been reached with the Craven Cottage club.

O'Donovan, who was also targeted by Southend, will return to Cork after signing for Fulham and remain at Turner's Cross until November, before linking up with former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez.

Southend chairman Ron Martin admitted defeat in his pursuit of O'Donovan on Thursday, despite the fact that his club are believed to have offered in the region of �400,000 for the player.

Martin told BBC Essex: "It's a shame because I think he could have been something special for this football club.