OWEN Coyle has played down reports that he is close to signing Chelsea’s Oriol Romeu on loan.

Despite admitting he is a huge fan of the Spanish midfielder, who it seems could be on offer at Stamford Bridge, the Wanderers boss admits it would be a long-shot to bring him to the Championship next season.

Romeu, the 20-year-old former Barcelona star, has struggled to find first team football under Roberto di Matteo and claimed this week that he was open to returning to Camp Nou, where his former club have a buy-back clause in his contract.

But while Coyle has not ruled out doing business with Chelsea this summer, he does not expect to bring Romeu to the Reebok any time soon.

“I’m sure the stuff with Romeu came up because of the relationship we have with Chelsea but sometimes people put two and two together and make five,” he said.

“There is no doubt that if there are players available on loan from Chelsea that Bolton Wanderers would be in the mix but there’s got to be an understanding of the level, depending on the player.”

As part of Gary Cahill’s £7million move to Chelsea in January, Wanderers are owed a player on loan. But unless the right person comes along, it is understood that Coyle could hold on to that option until next summer.

As expected, though, the manager is already mulling over a handful of loan targets and believes the Whites’ success with Jack Wilshere, Daniel Sturridge and Co in the past will certainly work in their favour.

“I’d suggest we’ve got a great relationship with all the elite clubs, and that’s not just in this country,” he said.

“Barcelona B are coming to play against us because of the relationship we have with Barcelona, and we have a very good relationship with Real Madrid.

“We know there are terrific players out there and that because of those relationships, those kind of clubs trust us with their players and know we’ll do right by them.

“We’re held in quite high regard because of how we work with the youngsters and improve them, so I don’t think we’ll ever be short of being able to entice them to the football club.”