FIORENTINA have been told to raise the stakes if they want to sign Marcos Alonso in January.

Dougie Freedman revealed yesterday that Wanderers have turned down an offer from the Serie A club and that the Spanish full-back has rejected a “very good” contract offer at the Reebok.

And even though the club risk losing Alonso for a minimal tribunal fee in the summer, Freedman does not feel under pressure to hurry the defender towards the exit door.

“We feel we have done a lot for Marcos and we value him a lot more than Fiorentina have offered,” he said. “As we speak right now, we have rejected that and we move on.

“We have paid players a lot of money in the past and we’re not in the Premier League any more, so we have got to have a little look at that.

“We have offered Marcos a contract, a very good one, but he has refused and does not want to sign it. He doesn't feel it’s quite right for himself.

“That puts us in a position. His contract is running out and those are the rules – we will get some compensation if he decides to leave. But I feel since I came here that he has played a few games, he is improving through the environment being better and the coaching being better. Therefore, he is an improving player and you might find he changes his mind.”

Freedman reckons Alonso can remain in his plans, despite the distraction of Fiorentina’s offer.

The youngster has not made waves after their bid – reported to be worth around £300,000 – was turned down, and is expected to feature in tomorrow's FA Cup clash against Everton.

“How would your head be if you had an offer from Fiorentina and one from Bolton?” Freedman added. “I think I'd be okay.

“I've got no problems with him at all. I've known him for three months, he's come into the team, and we had to work on him when we first got here.

“He is an attacking full-back but I wanted him more structured. He's done that and played well in the last four or five games.

“The club have rejected the offer but he hasn't expressed any disappointment to me in training.

“If something happens in the next three or four days we will make a decision, if it doesn't, we move to the summer and see if we can persuade him.”

Meanwhile, Wanderers finally rubber-stamped a loan deal for defender Craig Dawson last night, with the West Brom and England Under-21s man signing a 93-day deal.

Dawson turned down interest from Blackburn, Leeds and Leicester to sign at the Reebok and end a long chase for the Whites boss.

“We have worked very hard on this one and he has had half a dozen teams to pick from,” he said.

“I'm very pleased he's coming to us and not, I would like to point out, for money reasons.

“The kid feels this is where he would like to better himself.”