Wanderers are virtually over the line in their chase to sign Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with the Whites, and despite reported interest from Premier League clubs understood to include Sunderland and QPR, sources in Liverpool suggest a move is almost rubber-stamped – a loan deal until January.

Originally seeking a loan, it had been thought Wanderers could get the man who played 25 times for Liverpool last season, on a permanent deal in the region of £3milliion, with the Anfield club keen to raise funds for their own forays into the market.

Whites boss Owen Coyle seemed comfortable with that and even stressed yesterday he would not have to sell to balance the books. Now it appears the Scot has his man.

Speaking before developments yesterday afternoon, Coyle was hopeful of fending off any rivals for Spearing’s signature.

He said: “There is no secret we have a vested interest in trying to bring Jay Spearing from Liverpool – that’s not changed.

“As I expected, there is huge interest in him because he’s a quality player.

“All we can do is our best and we have tried to do that.

“You are never confident particularly when there are a number of other clubs in for Jay and they are far bigger clubs than Bolton Wanderers.

“I think other clubs know he’s a very good player and that’s why there’s the interest and it’s not just one or two clubs, we are talking four or five.

“Ultimately, we outline what we are about at Bolton Wanderers and have done our best.”

Spearing’s arrival may be the last of the window for Coyle and he doesn’t expect any of his players going the other way out of the Reebok Stadium having already rebuffed enquiries for young midfielders Mark Davies and Chung Yong-Lee.

“I don’t envisage that I will have to field calls,” he added.

“We have stressed our position and showed our hand.

“We have no desire to lose any of our players.

“We don’t have to sell anyone.

“I’ve always been open when asked about that.

“Swansea enquired a few weeks ago about Mark Davies and we obviously turned that down.

“There has been nothing else apart from an enquiry from Fulham three weeks ago about David Ngog.

“There were a few stories the other day without any foundation and you get that in the run-up to the window closing.

“I sit here very comfortable knowing what we want to do.

“Obviously if someone is going to some in and offer the football club money that’s way above somebody’s value, that goes out of the manager’s realms.”