Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has confirmed that Joe Mason could be loaned out to Wanderers later today.

The 22-year-old striker spent a short spell at the Reebok at the tail end of last year and has attracted interest from Brighton and Bournemouth, who were quoted £2million for his services.

Wanderers want to loan him for the rest of the season – and while it looked like they would have to wait until the loan window reopened in a fortnight, Solksjaer’s comments at his morning press conference today suggest a deal is ready to be done.

The Norwegian also confirmed that Kevin McNaughton would not be loaned back to Bolton.

"He is an important part of our squad because he is very adaptable," he said.

Millwall boss Ian Holloway has taken a swipe at Wanderers, accusing them of trying to unsettle midfielder Liam Trotter.

The Lions boss was unhappy that Dougie Freedman had enquired about the 24-year-old former Ipswich Town trainee – even though the Wanderers boss claimed yesterday that he had actually been offered Trotter’s services by his agent.

Trotter is out of contract in the summer but it is understood that Freedman would only make his move if another one of his midfield players moves out today.

Holloway said last night: “I'm not very happy with Bolton at the moment, to say the least.

"They have had a sniff but are waiting on someone going out before they can push ahead. If that deal falls through, they will have upset and disgruntled one of my players.

"I don't have a cat in hell's chance of keeping Liam because a club like Bolton will be able to offer him a big contract and I can't compete with that.

"With that being the case, I will have a massive problem if they don't come up with a deal."

Freedman denied actively pursuing Trotter’s signature at his press conference yesterday.

“He is a player his agent has been pushing on me for a long time,” said the Wanderers boss. “He is a free transfer at the end of the season and he’s a good player.

“There is no interest as we speak to bring in any players of that position. But if it was a left back we could definitely start the rumours.”

David Ngog’s move to Swansea earlier this week sparked a mini wave of euphoria around Wanderers – as the financial shackles that have caused such frustration in the last 12 months appeared to have been loosened a little.

But as Dougie Freedman heads into the final day of the January transfer window, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Whites boss wanted “three or four” new players to freshen his squad but was yesterday resigned to loaning out Craig Davies to Preston North End in an effort to free up a salary for a new left-back.

That news came as a bitter pill to swallow for the Wanderers fans, and no doubt the manager himself.

Although Neil Danns and Lukas Jutkiewicz have been brought in on loan this month, the wave of fresh blood the manager said was required to rejuvenate results has not quite materialised.

Unless there is a major move for one of Freedman’s more marketable players today it seems unlikely that wholesale changes will be made until the summer, and even then, under the watchful eye of Financial Fair Play.

The loan window reopens in a week, when Wanderers are expected to renew their interest in bringing Cardiff City’s Joe Mason to the club.

Reality is beginning to hit home – and it appears as if the club is starting to understand they can no longer rely on continued bankrolling from owner Eddie Davies, with new regulations limiting the amount he can plough in.

This could be a case of battening down the hatches and making sure the club do not sink any further while they try to get back on an even financial keel.

But with the millions being spent elsewhere on transfer deadline day, the potential lack of business at the Reebok is bound to be tough to take.

Tim Ream has been passed to play at Ipswich Town tomorrow – offering the hint of a silver lining to what has otherwise been a cloudy period for Wanderers.

While Dougie Freedman’s left-back search remains as exhaustive as ever, the American, who suffered a horrific facial injury at QPR on Tuesday night, may yet be able to step in as a stop-gap.

Youngster Hayden White is standing by but the Wanderers boss revealed yesterday that he is expecting Ream to be patched up at Portman Road. “We’re yet to see what the full damage is with Tim and he will see a specialist,” he said.

“Even if it is a broken nose he can play and at this moment I’d say he’s likely to.

“If it is what we think then he’ll need an operation but he has trained his morning.”

Ream’s injury has been no laughing matter – and the aerial challenge by QPR’s Charlie Austin is still one that rankles with the Wanderers boss.

But Freedman was able to look on the bright side when asked if the defender would be playing in a Phantom of the Opera-style mask for the occasion.

“He’s a good looking lad, why would he need a mask?” joked the Scot.

“We won’t need him to play in a mask but he will need a safeguard at the bridge of his nose.”

Such has been his frustration in trying to land a left back, Freedman joked that he even considered holding open trials at Euxton.

“If you’ve got any talent about you, turn up with your boots,” he said.

“It’s been a nightmare. Even with the Chelseas – I’ve been in contact about a couple of younger players but even their left-backs are difficult to get out.

“Left back is someone who balances your team up. Alex Baptiste has done a fantastic job, so has Tim, but they are not natural left-backs.

“There is no-one in the under-21s or the youth team that I think is ready for the first team in that position.”

The fact Freedman called on Chelsea opened up an opportunity to discuss one of the Reebok’s most clandestine tales – the fabled loan agreement that was made with the London club the day that Gary Cahill went to Chelsea for £7million.

Freedman has called on contacts at Chelsea, this week and in the previous two transfer windows, to see if any of Stamford Bridge’s young talents would be available and within his price range, most recently with Nathaniel Chalboah.

But he doubts whether an agreement between the two clubs actually exists in writing.

“I’ve been told about this agreement by a couple of Bolton fans – but I’m yet to actually see it,” he said.

“I’ve certainly tried to exercise it. But I’m not sure it has ever existed; not to my knowledge anyway.”

Hayden White has been backed to follow up his impressive baptism of fire at QPR with another display beyond his years if Dougie Freedman decides to stick with the youngster at Ipswich.

Wanderers boss Freedman was forced to throw the teenage full-back in for his first taste of senior football at Loftus Road in midweek after losing Tim Ream less than a minute into the game.

With defensive cover woefully thin, it is possible White – a summer recruit from Sheffield Wednesday – could keep his place at Portman Road.

And Alex Baptiste, who would most likely move over to the left should the youngster come into the starting line-up, reckons the Londoner would not let anyone down.

“When I saw Tim go down I thought ‘oh no, here we go,’ Baptiste said. “But Hayden came in and he was unbelievable. Considering that was his first game, it was different class.

“Credit to him that he looks comfortable at this level.”

White has only recently been brought into the first-team set-up, sitting on the bench for the last few games as the numbers in Freedman’s squad have dwindled.

Baptiste says he and other senior members of the squad would help calm the 19-year-old’s nerves if need be tomorrow, but believes White has all the tools to become a first class full-back.

“He’s probably the quickest player at the club,” he said. “He’s got all the attributes and he’s still only young. I think he’ll be a very good player for Bolton.

“We’ve tried to give him a bit of advice but he’s come in recently and it’s as if he has been a member of the first team all season.

“He might have to go again at Ipswich. But as you saw against QPR I think he can handle it.

“He took that game in his stride and if he’s needed against Ipswich, he’ll give another outstanding performance.”

Baptiste’s words were echoed by Zat Knight – who says White will have benefited from his sudden debut at QPR.

“I’d give him massive credit,” he said.

“I said he’s got to be proud of himself – and his family should be proud too.

“He’s been on the fringe of things, has been training with us, but to come into a game like this against a team like QPR is a rare chance. But I think it’s a good one to come into.

“He has to start somewhere. It isn’t easy for a young lad to come into the situation we’re in – it’d be nice for him to come in when there was not as much pressure on us.

“But sometimes you get thrown in at the deep end at it’s a test of character.”