WANDERERS are reported to have stolen a march on three Premiership rivals in the race to sign Malaga defender Juan Jesus Juanito.

Sources in Spain claim Sam Allardyce has offered the highly-rated 25-year-old a contract in an attempt to beat off competition from Liverpool, Everton and Blackburn Rovers.

Juanito has rejected a lucrative four year contract to stay at Malaga and now seems likely to leave his hometown club on a free transfer this summer.

Other Spanish clubs have shown an interest but Malaga's sporting director, Manuel Luis Hierro, suggested the Premiership was his likeliest destination.