Makukula secures Bolton loan move
Striker Ariza Makukula is to join Bolton on loan until the end of the season from Portuguese side Benfica.
A statement on Friday announced that Makukula, who previously turned down a move to West Bromwich Albion, had agreed terms with Gary Megson's side.
DR Congo-born Makukula, 27, has failed to secure a regular place in the Benfica team this season.
Bolton will also have an option to buy the powerfully-built forward for £4.5m at the end of the season.
Makukula has played four times for Portugal while also winning the Uefa Cup in 2006 while at Sevilla.
Bolton face battle to sign Veloso
Bolton have opened talks with Sporting Lisbon about signing midfielder Miguel Veloso, but the player's agent says several other clubs are interested.
Manchester City are among the clubs to be keen on signing the 22-year-old, according to Paulo Barbosa.
"What is happening now is that clubs are waiting to see what other clubs could offer, in order to make their own bid," said Barbosa.
The Portuguese player is believed to have a price tag of about £12m.
"It's something we are trying to do but whether it comes to fruition is another thing," said Bolton manager Gary Megson.
"He is a quality act. If we can do it we will try to bring him in. We have spoken to Sporting but that is all it is at the moment."
Veloso has previously expressed an interest in playing abroad.
"He (Veloso) is not allowed to talk too much now about this subject but he is looking forward to seeing clubs reaching an agreement," added Barbosa.
"It is important to notice that Bolton are not alone. Manchester City have already shown interest in him.
"Probably (between Tuesday and Wednesday) there might be an outcome on this issue.
"What may block the negotiations? Well if the bidders do not offer what Sporting Lisbon are looking at, for example."
Megson confirmed that such funds could be made available if they can find the right target.
"He certainly is expensive but that is not the issue," he added.
"If we can take the right player to (club owner) Eddie Davies there has never been an amount of money that he hasn't given us.
"If it is a player we think will improve us and it is do-able we will try to do it.
"We would like to bring in quality players but if they are not quality players we won't do it for the sake of it."
However, Velosa has made clear his contentment at Sporting and stressed at the weekend that he did not want to leave the club.
"I started at Sporting, it was Sporting that created me and I just have to thank Sporting for everything they have done for me," he told the club's website.
"I am happy at the Alvalade Stadium and I will continue to work to help the team achieve what we want. I am committed."
Blackpool sign Chris Basham from Bolton Wanderers
Utility player Chris Basham has become Blackpool's sixth signing in the space of the past three days.
Basham, 22, joins from Bolton, where he made 19 appearances, and goes straight into the squad to face Wigan.
Wanderers rejected Blackpool's initial bid last Friday but have now agreed terms with the Seasiders.
"He's a player we value, but I had to be fair to him because his chances have been limited here," said Bolton manager Owen Coyle on Thursday.
"Morally, I felt I had to give him the opportunity if he wanted to play week-in week-out."
Basham, who can play in midfield or defence, also had loan spells at Stafford Rangers and Rochdale after coming through Bolton's youth system. He joins Blackpool on a three-year deal.
Blackpool signed striker Marlon Harewood on Wednesday, one of five new arrivals to join the Seasiders on the same day.
Manchester United's Northern Ireland defender Craig Cathcart, 21, joined for an undisclosed fee.
Blackpool also acquired the French trio of ex-Barcelona trainee Ludovic Sylvestre, 26, former Marseille player Elliot Grandin, 22, and Malaury Martin, 21, who was last with Monaco.
Bolton and Villa fancy a Mexican
Bolton and Aston Villa are reportedly tracking Deportivo's Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado with a view to a possible summer move.
Guardado is currently plying his trade in La Coruna but the left-sided schemer could be heading to the Premier League in the summer.
Blackburn were said to have expressed an interest on Guardado in the January transfer window, but they instead added Jermaine Jones to the Ewood Park engine room.
And it now looks as though their Lancashire rivals Bolton, plus Villa, are leading the chase having sent scouts to watch the 24-year-old in La Liga, where he has played for four years.
Guardado, who could cost around £7.5million, was an integral member of Mexico's World Cup side last summer.
And Deportivo could be persuaded to part ways with the former Atlas performer given their financial difficulties and current predicament in the Primera Division, where they lie 17th - one place and one point above the drop zone.
