SAM Allardyce plunged back in the transfer market today when he added French midfielder Mario Espartero to his survival squad.

The 24-year-old £1.5 million rated attacker has joined Wanderers on a three-month loan from FC Metz.

Espartero will join fellow new signings Fredi Bobic, Stig Tofting and Youri Djorkaeff in the squad for Saturday's trip to Southampton - provided his international clearance comes through in time.

Espartero had attracted the interest of a number of top clubs including Newcastle and Milan and he had trials at Rangers and Blackburn Rovers.

The player's agent Willie McKay revealed to planetfootball.com that Bolton had agreed a deal with Metz to take Espartero on loan for the rest of the season with the option of buying him permanently at the end of his spell at The Reebok Stadium.

The deal also includes a clause which allows any other side to buy Espartero at any time during his loan spell should they meet Metz's £1.5 million valuation of the player, but Bolton have first refusal to sign him.

"Mario has signed today (Thursday) for Bolton on loan until the end of the season," McKay told planetfootball.com.

"There is a clause in the deal which allows any other club to sign him for £1.5 million if they reach agreement with Metz, but Bolton have an exclusive option to make the signing permanent.

The Monte Carlo based agent also admitted that Espartero was looking forward to proving his worth in England after earning himself a reputation of being somewhat troublesome in France.

"Mario wants to prove himself on the pitch and he plans to do his talking on the pitch," said McKay.