WANDERERS have been beaten to the punch by League One Fleetwood Town to sign Everton striker David Henen on loan.

The Bolton News understands Neil Lennon spoke with the highly-rated Belgian forward about a move to the Macron Stadium in the last few days and was optimistic about his chances of completing the transfer next week.

But as the move waited in limbo, ambitious Fleetwood have pounced on the opportunity to snatch the highly-rated 19-year-old out from under the Whites’ noses and were expecting to confirm his signature last night.

Henen is tipped for big things on Merseyside and has been a regular for the development squad this season, scoring his first Blues goal in a 2-0 win at Southampton.

Roberto Martinez has pushed for the youngster to get some first-team exposure and that alerted Lennon, who has been on the lookout for some fresh blood in his attack.

Rotherham United had also expressed an interest in the former Olympiakos man, who has been capped at all junior levels by Belgium and can play on either wing.

Lennon has already wrapped up the signing of Rajiv van la Parra for a month but hinted he could bring a second player in ahead of the Reading game on November 21.

“It’s been evident for a little while now that we need a couple of players just to give the place a lift,” he said last Saturday. “We need some freshness and it’s something I’ll be working on over the international break.”

Meanwhile, Wanderers are to offer Torquay United goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe a trial at Euxton next week.

Lavercombe had a spell at Liverpool last season before returning to Plainmoor to force his way into the first team at the tender age of 18.

A product of the club’s academy, which was closed following a takeover earlier this year, the young keeper will spend a week with Wanderers in an effort to land a permanent deal.

Sheffield Wednesday have also tabled a similar offer and United player-boss Kevin Nicholson believes the experience will stand him in good stead either way.

“There are one or two clubs keeping an eye on Dan, and next week he may be going to train with one of them," he told the Western Morning Herald.

"He is a very good young goalkeeper.

“It's great for the club that a young player is attracting this sort of interest, and great for Dan too.”

The teenager made his Gulls debut last April in a 2-0 defeat against Aldershot Town but then conceded just one goal in the final four games of the season.

He lost his first team place to summer signing Fabian Spiess for the majority of this season but recently returned to the starting line-up and is expected to play for the Conference club against Barrow this weekend.