Wanderers will complete the signing of Spanish defender Marcos Alonso on Monday.

The 18-year-old will undergo a medical at the Reebok this weekend, ending Owen Coyle’s long and complex chase for his signature.

It is thought the Whites have agreed a fee of around £1.6million to land the Real Madrid full-back, who turned down the chance to join Portuguese giants Benfica to try his luck in the Premier League.

Alonso featured regularly on the bench at the Bernabeu last season but made just one first team appearance, playing the majority of his football in the club’s reserve team, Castilla.

Coyle had hoped to bring fellow Spain Under-19 international Rodrigo Moreno with him to the Reebok but the young striker plumped for a move to Portugal instead – which held up the deal until after the club returned from their North American tour.

The Wanderers boss watched Alonso in action several times last season and sees him as the long-term successor to Paul Robinson on the left side of defence.

It also leaves the way clear for Jlloyd Samuel to leave the club, with Newcastle United the only club to confirm interest so far.Chris Hughton confirmed that he has made tentative enquiries about the 28-year-old former Aston Villa man but with Wanderers away in the US and Canada, the trail has cooled.