CHERRIES are today set to finalise a deal with Rhoys Wiggins – with boss Eddie Howe signing the defender for a fourth time.

Wiggins is due to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical after a nominal fee – believed to be in the region of £200,000 – was agreed with Sheffield Wednesday.

The 28-year-old, who has already had three separate spells with the Dorset club, will be drafted in to provide back up for first-choice left-back Charlie Daniels.

Wiggins will become Cherries’ fifth addition of the transfer window following the arrivals of Juan Iturbe, Benik Afobe, Lewis Grabban and Marius Adamonis.

One of Howe’s first signings in management after he had taken caretaker charge of Cherries in January 2009, Wiggins joined on loan from Crystal Palace, where he had progressed through the ranks.

He starred as Cherries preserved their Football League status in 2008-09 before returning for a second loan spell – when he was at Norwich – and helped Cherries win promotion to League One in 2010.

Although a transfer embargo had prevented Cherries from signing Wiggins permanently in 2009, Howe finally got his man in July 2010 when he penned a two-year contract after a fee of around £35,000 had been agreed with Norwich.

Wiggins played a key role in helping Cherries reach the League One play-offs in 2011, eventually losing in the semi-finals to Huddersfield, the second leg in west Yorkshire proving to be his last game for the club.

Just weeks after Howe had left for Burnley in January 2011, Wiggins put in a transfer request amid interest from Watford, claiming he wanted to play for a club at a higher level.

He upset a section of the club’s supporters when he finally left for Charlton, the Addicks having finished below Cherries in League One.

Wiggins spent four years at The Valley – helping Charlton to promotion in 2011 – before joining Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee in August.

But the Wales under-21 international has been restricted to just nine appearances for the Owls this season, including six in the Championship.

The Daily Echo also understands goalkeeper Ryan Allsop could be loaned out before the window closes.