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The Vikings and Houston Texans are close to completing a trade that would send quarterback Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota, according to the Houston Chronicle. The Vikings reportedly would give up a fourth-round draft choice.

This is the second year in a row the Vikings have attempted to get Rosenfels. Last year, the Vikings offered Houston a third-round pick but the talks ended when the Texans asked for a second-rounder.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Friday that he wanted someone to compete with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting quarterback job and that if Gus Frerotte elected to return for the final season of his contract he could be the guy. However, if a trade for Rosenfels is completed that likely means Frerotte won’t be back.

Rosenfels, who is from Iowa and played at Iowa State, has one season left on his contract. He will turn 31 on March 6.

Rosenfels has been in the NFL for eight seasons, spending one season with Miami, four with Miami and three with Houston. He has started five games each of the past two seasons and went 2-3 last season. Here is Rosenfels’ bio page from NFL.com.

Rosenfels did not start in the Texans’ 28-21 loss at the Metrodome on Nov. 2, but he did replace the injured Matt Schaub in that game. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Rosenfels was 4-1 in his five starts in 2007 and certainly upped his value by going 3-1 in the Texans’ final four games that season. He threw seven touchdowns and five interceptions in that time. This included three touchdown passes in a 28-14 victory over Tampa Bay but two weeks later he threw three interceptions in a 38-15 loss to Indianapolis. Rosenfels lost his first three starts last season before guiding the Texans to victories over Cleveland and Jacksonville.

Even if the trade is agreed upon, it will not become official until 11 p.m. Thursday when the NFL’s new league year will begin. That also will mark the start of free agency.

Rosenfels has a year remaining on his contract, but the Vikings have offered him a $9 million, three-year extension, according to SportsRadio 610 in Houston.