DOUGIE Freedman says he will not be forced into quick-fix solutions during the January transfer window.

The Wanderers boss landed his first permanent signing this week in £300,000 striker Craig Davies and is now in the market for some defensive cover after finalising a year-long loan move for Slovakia Under-21 international Jan Gregus from Banik Ostrava.

But he remains determined not to pay over the odds for his targets and it is understood the plug was pulled on a deal for Crawley Town defender Hope Akpan – now at Reading – because the manager did not feel the £300,000 fee represented good value.

Freedman has also passed on Norwegian defender Jonatan Tollas, of Aalesund, but retains an interest in bringing in West Brom’s Craig Dawson on loan.

His search for defenders may have been made easier following Martin Petrov’s exit to Espanyol, which rids the squad of one of its biggest earners.

But Freedman has vowed to stick by his valuation of players in the next 19 days, even if he has to go without another permanent arrival. “We have got an interest in two or three players and, if they become available, then great,” he told The Bolton News. “If they don’t, then we won't get anybody.

“I don’t want to go out there and sign someone who I think will lift the dressing room or the fans for a short-term period.

“I need players who will fit the profile I am looking for. They are out there, but getting them in is difficult.”

Gregus has been with the squad for the last couple of weeks but will need time to grow accustomed to his new surroundings before being introduced to the Championship, according to Freedman, who also revealed where he had first discovered the 21-year-old playmaker.

“I spotted this player when I was down scouting about a year ago,” he said.

“There were two of them in midfield and one went to Cardiff, the young lad (Filip) Kiss.

“To be honest he’s not really one for the first team, it’s more for the development squad.

“We’ll get him in, get him settled into the country and into the area, and get him used to the intensity of training and of the game over here. Hopefully then he matures and he’ll be ready.”

Meanwhile, West Brom boss Steve Clarke has confirmed he intends to send Wanderers target Dawson out on loan once Jonas Olsson’s groin injury improves.

Steven Reid and Goran Popov have also been absent, leaving Gabriel Tamas as the only spare defender in the Baggies camp.

“Craig is a top prospect and a top talent,” Clarke said. “He’s been really unfortunate that Olsson and (Gareth) McAuley have been outstanding and the back-up, Gabi Tamas, has also been outstanding when he’s played.

“He’s found his chances very limited.

“At some stage between now and the end of the season, if he doesn’t get in the team here and Jonas, Gareth and Gabi are OK, I would like him to go out to get some games.

“It would be temporary, for sure, because he’s got a big future in the game.

“I see an improvement in him from when I came here in the summer to now, and now he needs to go out and get some match time.

“Given the right circumstances we will look to do that.”