SAM Allardyce has paved the way for a transfer swoop and lined up loan moves for three fringe players.

Utility defender Anthony Barness has joined West Ham and reserve duo Jeff Smith and Cleveland Taylor have joined Third Division Scunthorpe.

All three played in Tuesday night's FA Cup replay defeat by Tranmere, after which Allardyce said he wanted to sign a defender before Saturday's Reebok clash with Portsmouth and at least two more players before the January 31 deadline.

The Wanderers' boss has flown to France, following up leads on a number of targets, prompting speculation that he has revived his interest in the Belgian international defender Philippe Leonard, who is playing for Nice on a weekly contract.

Leonard recently rejected a move to Bolton and Allardyce denied he was considering a fresh approach earlier this week. But with Ricardo Gardner out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and Simon Charlton laid up with a hamstring problem, he is desperate.

Wanderers have also been linked with Liverpool defender Djimi Traore and Sunderland's Michael Gray, but the manager's flight to France suggests his targets are based on the Continent.

London-born Barness has returned to the capital to and trained with West Ham on Thursday morning. The reliable 30-year-old defender started his career at Charlton and had a four-year spell at Chelsea before returning to The Valley. He joined Wanderers on a free transfer in the summer of 2000 and has played in every position across the back four and in midfied.

He steps straight into the squad for the trip to Sheffield United this weekend.

West Ham boss Alan Pardew said: "He's well-known to me because I played with him at Charlton.

"One of the reasons I brought him here is because he's been involved in winning promotion with Bolton and is used to the pressure.

"He has the right experience and he will add to our squad. He can play on either side and gives us great options."

Smith and Taylor are expected to go straight into the Scunthorpe side to face Bury on Saturday.

The moves takes to six the number of Bolton players loaned out in recent weeks. Gareth Farrelly is at Bradford, Jonathan Walters is with Barnsley and Derek Niven is at Chesterfield.

Mario Jardel's transfer to Spain could be back on.

La Liga strugglers, Espanyol, who reportedly dropped their interest in the Brazilian striker last weekend, say they will make an official approach.