Can Bolton wrap up Zaha before the window shuts?

Ah, the mad transfer window rush, who can fail to be excited by the last day slap-dash lunacy as managers take a look at their squad and press the panic button and get onto the blower to their chairmen quick snap to fire off a move for the flavour of the month whose club may be vulnerable to a flick of the eyelashes with not much time left on the clock.

The situation here surrounds Bolton’s pursuit of Crystal Palace’s hot prodigy Wilfried Zaha after Owen Coyle spoke of his interest in the 19 year old forward over the weekend and news has emerged this morning that Bolton have indeed lodged a bid for the striker who comes with more glowing reports than financial statements soaked in radium.

So can Bolton thrash out a deal before the window comes crashing down? Well, it will be a job well done as Coyle has admitted both clubs are still wide of the mark with their valuations of the player.

“I don't think it is to the value that the Crystal Palace chairman (wants), but it is an offer we felt was fair for where a very talented young player is at the moment” said the Scot who is fending off interest from Everton as they look to a player who can win them double them the amount of points than Louis Saha, only in a game of scrabble of course.

Okay, the last part is not true but the first part definitely is, Bolton have made a speculatory bid for the Crystal Palace youth product who has impressed all and sundry with his right-wing performances as Palace sit in mid-table and have reached the semi-finals of a magnificent Carling-Cup campaign under Dougie Freedman.

Coyle also said “I always put what I think is a fair value on a player and if we get to it, great. If we don't, then we have to accept that we are not going to pay what we would believe would be over the odds”, although this could be a deliberate tactic to appease the Reebok faithful who will be satisfied with Coyle’s apparent endeavour to sign the forward even though there is little chance of it coming to fruition. Better to try and fail than never to try at all, that kind of thing.

If Bolton can somehow road-run these negotiations as fast as the cartoon bird, then they will be getting a very promising prospect who is quick, strong and skilful with plenty of time to improve.

After making 32 appearances so far this season, scoring and assisting five goals, Palace will be desperate to keep hold of him until the summer though at least and with Coyle saying “we’d love for that to come to fruition”, of course he would but he’s going to have to be quick. Very quick indeed.

Time is running out on this particular deal and even in all the deadline day hustle and bustle, it doesn’t look like it will be completed in time, sorry boys.

@AdamGray1250