By Mark Heys
August 29 2006

Zenit St Petersburg's left sided defender Pavel Mares is beleived to be close to agreeing a deal with Bolton Wanderers according to media reports. The 30-year old has confirmed that he is set to leave the Russian club for England before the transfer window closes later this week and Wanderers are said to be in pole position to gain his signature.

Czech Republic international Mares joined Zenit from Sparta Prague in December 2003 and has since clocked up well in excess of seventy appearances in Russian football.

However he wasn't in the Zenit team which faced the Trotters in the UEFA Cup on a rain drenched evening at the Reebok Stadium last November.

Meanwhile Bolton are also preparing a £4 million bid for Deportivo La Coruna hardman Aldo Duscher. The South American has long been linked with a move to the UK and Wanderers are rumoured to be ready to sanction a quick deal to fend off a counter bid from West Ham United or Manchester United.