By Mark Heys
January 5 2008

Portsmouth utility player Matt Taylor could be a Bolton Wanderers player by the end of the weekend after various news sources claimed that a £3 million deal had been agreed for the former England U21 international.

The 26-year old has been told he can leave Fratton Park if the right offer comes in and it seems as if the Wanderers have stolen a march on the likes of Glasgow Rangers and Sunderland in their attempts to land the ex-Luton Town favourite.

Taylor, famed for his long distance shooting and versatility down the left hand side of the field, has been at Portsmouth since 2002 and has made nearly 200 appearances for the South Coast club.

His only goal of the season so far, ironically came against Bolton in the final few minutes of Pompey's 3-1 win back in August and if a move to the Reebok Stadium is completed he will link up once again with former team mate Andy O'Brien, who himself moved from Pompey to Wanderers earlier in the season.

Both clubs and their managers are staying tight lipped about the situation but the Bolton News amongst others has claimed that talks have already taken place between the relevant people.

Bolton have also been linked to Celtic's Bobo Balde, Sheffield United duo Rob Hulse and Chris Morgan as well as two of Gary Megson's old West Brom collegues Zoltan Gera and Paul Robinson.