Wanderers are preparing to test David Nugent’s desire to stay at Portsmouth with a bid for the striker expected early next week.

Owen Coyle is eager to add more pace to his front line and could use Danny Shittu or Nicky Hunt as bait to land the former England man.

Nugent has already snubbed a move to Blackburn Rovers, claiming that he wants to lead Portsmouth’s charge for promotion in the Championship next season.

But the chance to rejoin Coyle, with whom he worked on loan at Burnley last season, could be too tempting an offer to resist.

Nugent has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Pompey since joining the club for £6million from Preston North End three years ago, scoring just six goals in 45 appearances.

But since returning to pre-season training, the 25-year-old Liverpudlian has vowed to knuckle down and try to revive his fortunes on the South Coast.

“I’m happy to be here,” said the ex-Bury star. “I’ve sat down with the gaffer and we have had a chat. I was first in on the first day of pre-season. I wanted to make a good impression.

“We had a chat and he told me the plans for the club. It sounded good and I want to be a part of it. I’m a Portsmouth player and looking forward to the season.”

Nugent scored six goals in 30 appearances for Burnley on loan last season, including a brace against Sunderland.

Coyle has monitored his progress all summer but denied last month that any official approach had been made.

That could change this week, with Wanderers hoping to do business before their mini tour of Scotland.

The Bolton News understands that reports linking Coyle with Liverpool striker David Ngog, however, are way off the mark.

And there will be no opportunity for Bolivian striker Gilbert Alvarez to earn a contract in the Premier League, after visa issues prevented him from linking up with the squad in the US and Canada.

The 18-year-old would also be unable to get a work permit in the UK.

Meanwhile, the Whites are rejecting claims from former striker Zoltan Harsanyi that he turned down a new contract at the Reebok before signing for Slovakian top-flight club Dunajska Streda.

The 23-year-old, who failed to make a first-team breakthrough in three years after arriving from Senec in January 2007, was close to signing for Aberdeen before moving back to his native country.

“I had offers from elsewhere, too,” he said. “Clubs from lower English divisions and Scottish clubs were interested in my services.

“I considered all offers and eventually decided to move to Slovakia.

“It would not pay off to play abroad where things are not always ideal.”