SAM Allardyce is hoping to finally get the green light today to make his move for Real Madrid centre-back Ivan Campo.

The Wanderers' boss has made a formal approach to the Spanish giants, hoping to persuade them to let take the experienced defender on loan for the rest of the season, but was still awaiting a reply from the Bernabeu this morning.

"I thought I might have had it sorted by Wednesday," he moaned, "but they have not come back to us.

"Hopefully we can do something soon."

The manager had feared he might struggle to convince his directors to make another big transfer splash after recruiting German international, Fredi Bobic, and French World Cup winner, Youri Djorkaeff, on big wages - although not, he insists, at the sky-high levels suggested by the tabloid speculators.

But he has been given scope to pursue the Campo deal after trimming his existing squad three times in as many days.

Having allowed reserve striker Paul Wheatcroft to join Mansfield on loan he agreed to let Colin Hendry join Preston for a month and loaned midfielder David Norris to Hull City for the rest of the season.

"We've pushed the club to the limit and beyond," Allardyce admitted. "There's no question about that and, as always, you're grateful to get a new player in.

"But in the end they (the directors) realised once we were slipping into the danger zone that something had to be done. We've done it and hopefully what we've done will be enough.

"It not only brings extra players to the club but it takes the ones who are already here up a level because they are playing with world class players."

Allardyce will not be deterred if the Campo deal does not come off. He has targets all over Europe and refuses to put a limit on his recruitment until he is forced to by the transfer deadline.

"Loaning players out will give me the opportunity to look for more players," he confirmed, "and there are a lot of quality players around in Europe at the moment - Ivan Campo being a prime example.

"Quality is extremely important. If you've got the work ethic and the extra quality, you are doing all right."

Asked if there were other signings in the pipeline, the manager replied: "There are always more."