Mark Davies on verge of new deal

About a month ago, reports emerged from outlets like Sky that Bolton Wanderers midfielder Mark Davies had signed a contract extension at the club. Said extension would take the midfielder's current deal all the way to 2017 and would lock up one of the club's most promising players. Today, a piece from the Bolton News has made it seem that the earlier reports were off the mark and that the deal is close but not quite done.

In an interview with Dougie Freedman, the manager told the paper:

"Mark Davies was offered a new contract in the summer before I came to the club.

"Over the period when I came here, that was still being talked about.

"I think it is still ongoing but I will need to check upstairs where we are with it.

"I am pretty sure it is nearly agreed with my blessing in terms of him staying a lot longer.

"Mark Davies is somebody I want to build a team around.

"Where we are with it right now, I don't think the ink is dry yet but I think it is very close."

Davies' current deal runs out in 2015. When signing with the club in winter 2009, Davies originally penned a four-and-a-half year deal. He further extended that contract by a year in 2011. Prior to his injury against Huddersfield Town, he was easily one of Bolton's better players this season and his Man of the Match performance against Hull City on Saturday is certainly a sign of things to come.