WANDERERS were yesterday hoping to complete a deal for Ipswich Town centre-half Toto Nsiala in time for him to face Rochdale tomorrow.

Talks with the 27-year-old continued yesterday with sources in East Anglia claiming a loan move was close to being agreed between the two clubs.

Nsiala was on the books at Everton as a youngster and has close to 300 career appearances, making a £750,000 switch to Portman Road only 18 months ago from Shrewsbury Town.

But his time to Ipswich has proved a difficult one and there is suggestion from the Tractor Boys camp that a deal to move him on permanently in the summer is being discussed.

Nsiala has featured in just two of Ipswich’s last eight league games plus cup matches against Exeter and Coventry and despite Paul Lambert praising the centre-half’s improvement this season after a hamstring injury ruled him out in August and September, he has struggled for regular inclusion in the Scot’s three-man back line.

Keith Hill’s need for central defenders is no secret, with Jake Wright and Josh Earl having returned to their parent clubs last week.

Contact was made with Oldham Athletic over a potential return for David Wheater last week but appears to have fizzled out, the League Two side refusing to do business.

Several other possibilities have also been explored with a view to getting someone on board before the noon deadline and enable them to be part of the squad at Spotland.

Hill’s central defensive options are fairly limited as Jack Hobbs has seemingly yet to recover from a long-standing back problem, leaving Harry Brockbank – who is primarily a right-back - plus youngsters Liam Edwards, Adam Senior and Yoan Zouma.

The proximity of Tuesday night’s away game at Lincoln could also be an issue for the Bolton boss, who will have little time to work with his new players between the two games.

New loan signing Ethan Hamilton is likely to come into the midfield for his debut and striker Muhammadu Faal is also hoping to be included in the matchday squad.