With deadline day just about here, a new name has been tossed into the hat for fullback Marcos Alonso. Despite rumors of Swansea and others floating around, the only real contended for the former Real Madrid man's signature was Serie A side Fiorentina. They had made an official bid for him and Bolton Wanderers had rejected.
Bolton had offered Alonso a "very good" contract (according to Dougie Freedman) but the player had rejected it as Fiorentina were more than ready to double his weekly wages.
Alonso, who had really come into his own during the last few Championship and FA Cup matches, has (according to the Daily Mirror) impressed Tony Pulis at Stoke City. Stoke have long needed a left back in their ranks. Stoke City are very close to landing American winger Brek Shea (pending a physical) and could use a player like Alonso to link up down the flank with him.
According to the Mirror, Fiorentina had offered bolton some £170,000 in order to sign Alonso six months before his contract expires, signalling a massive £2 million financial loss on Alonso's transfer fee alone. Bolton had rejected the offer and are, according to our source, seeking something more in the range of £500,000. According to the Mirror though, Stoke are all set to pay that and a little more.
Should this deal happen tomorrow, and it well could if both club and player agree, it will leave Bolton Wanderers scrambling for a left back. With Alonso gone, the only fit player that could really play left back on Bolton's books would be Sam Ricketts.