TRANSFER deadline day may have been and gone – but Wanderers are still in the market for players, The Bolton News understands.

Despite adding Cardiff City’s Craig Noone to his ranks on Thursday, Phil Parkinson still intends to keep his eye on free agents in the hope he can expand his squad further.

Ken Anderson confirmed yesterday the Whites currently have 24 registered players – which would suggest he has been granted permission by the EFL to go beyond the 23-man quota bestowed upon clubs in embargo.

A spokesman for the EFL said yesterday there had been no change in policy and he could not discuss the details of individual clubs.

Significant efforts were made on Thursday to move on out-of-favour midfielder Chris Taylor – either permanently on loan – but the 30-year-old failed to agree terms on the remainder of his contract, which runs to the end of this season.

Parkinson had lined up at least two more players on deadline day in the event the EFL gave Wanderers permission to increase their quota, or Taylor’s exit, one of which was Swansea City’s Jay Fulton.

With the window closed and Anderson now in complete control at the Macron, the chairman will look to negotiate with the league for extra space and wage budget to cover for injuries. He has not yet indicated when he expects a full removal of the embargo, which has been in place since December, 2015, and now limits the club to contract offers of £4,500 a week.

Should Wanderers get the go-ahead we understand the club would be keen to speak with former captain Jay Spearing, who has yet to find a new club since the expiry of his contract in the summer.

Fans have been clamouring to see the former Liverpool midfielder back in a Bolton shirt but negotiations over a new deal this summer came to nothing because of the restrictions currently placed on the club.

Wanderers also have to stock their Under-23s squad, with David Lee's options looking painfully thin at present.

Anderson also confirmed yesterday that the Whites missed out on a loan deal for Chung-Yong Lee, as we revealed on Thursday morning.

Talks were held on Wednesday with the South Korean midfielder and his representatives but the Wanderers chairman said a lack of cover in the Eagles squad was the primary reason for the move not going ahead.