The Rock is back at the Reebok
11:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in Latest By Marc Iles
Wanderers were making a final attempt on Friday night to sign Colombia international Carlos Sanchez. The 26-year-old midfielder went to the Reebok with his representatives in an effort to end the club’s most drawn-out transfer saga of the summer once and for all.
Sanchez – nicknamed “The Rock” because of his rugged playing style – has proved an elusive and frustrating customer in the last few months but flew into the country on Thursday night in an attempt to resurrect a move that appeared dead and buried earlier in the week.
In the event that Wanderers cannot strike a deal for the former Valenciennes ball-winner, it is understood that Liverpool's Jay Spearing is among the players sounded out as a possible alternative.
The 23-year-old could be allowed to leave Anfield on loan this season, and Coyle wanted to be first in the queue should a permanent move for Sanchez fail to materialise. But little should be taken for granted when it comes to the South American, who failed to appear for the first meeting planned with the Wanderers hierarchy several weeks ago.
When contact was finally established – a matter that was complicated because a number of people were claiming to represent him – the move appeared to hit the skids once again.
Wanderers set an offer in stone back in July, but Sanchez’s agent asked that the player’s basic salary should be doubled when he finally turned up to discuss a move on his behalf.
After being sent away with a flea in his ear, the agent then returned, this time with his man in tow, for one final attempt at striking a deal.
In any case, Sanchez would not be able to completed the relevant paperwork in time to feature in the club's first game of the season at Burnley this afternoon.
Coyle goes back to Turf Moor with the backing of a sold out away following of 3,600 Wanderers fans but will leave David Ngog out of his squad after the Frenchman failed to prove his fitness in training over the last 48 hours.
He has no other fitness worries and is likely to hand a full debut to summer signings Keith Andrews and Matt Mills.
Meanwhile, the club's Capital One Cup second round game at Crawley has been confirmed as taking place on Tuesday, August 28 at 7.45pm.
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