Megson lines up third target

Megson: Irons in the fire

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Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson says he has signed two of his three prime targets in Fabrice Muamba and Johan Elmander.

Muamba has moved to the Reebok Stadium following Birmingham City's relegation from the Premier League, while Elmander has joined from Toulouse.

Megson is now looking to tie up a deal for the mystery third name on his wanted list after insisting Swedish striker Elmander is not a readymade replacement for Nicolas Anelka.

"He's not a direct replacement for Anelka," Megson told Sky Sports News. "He's not the same kind of player. He's got strengths that maybe Nic didn't have and vice versa.

Honest

"He leads the line well, he puts in a good shift, he's really honest and he'll fit in well with the rest of the people in that respect.

"We've obviously been doing our homework over the course of the off season and trying to get players in.

"I gave the board the names of three players I really wanted to bring in and not move on until we'd exhausted every possibility.

"That's two of the three, and we're still trying to do the third one and we'll go from there."

James Harper has been linked with a move to Bolton, but Megson did not want to comment on any interest in the Reading midfielder.

He added: "I think it's unfair talking about other people's players until they actually become our players, if indeed that happens.

"We've still got irons in the fire - I suppose that is the phrase that we're looking for. They've got to be good players to get into the squad."