SYLVAIN Distin's loss could be Bruno Ngotty's gain if Sam Allardyce's French connections finally deliver the goods.

What a difference three wins make!

A fortnight ago, 23-year-old Distin did not seem too keen on joining a team being strongly-tipped for instant relegation. Now his fellow countryman is seriously considering joining the Premiership leaders and it looks like Allardyce's contacts on the Continent might have come up with a winner.

The Wanderers' boss has been trawling France ever since he came to the Reebok and has forged the strongest of cross-Channel links in recent months after stepping up his search for a centre-back and a striker.

Ngotty is his latest target - a 30 year-old central defender with an impressive pedigree whom Marseille are prepared to let out on loan until the end of the season, when he could be available on a free transfer.

The former Lyon, Paris St Germain and AC Milan defender - capped six times by France - is currently in Bolton, discussing a deal which Allardyce set up after losing patience with Distin.

Wanderers were ready to pay a record fee (£3.5m to £4m) for the PSG defender until the deal fell through for the third time when his advisors broke off from negotiations to drag him off to Tyneside in a convoluted attempt to set up a move to Newcastle.

Now, with the Geordies stalling and Wanderers switching their sights elsewhere, 23-year-old Distin could find himself missing out on a move to the Premiership while Ngotty - surplus to requirements at Marseille following Frank Leboeuf's arrival from Chelsea - jumps aboard the Reebok bandwagon.

The money side of the deal will take some thrashing out but much will depend on Ngotty's impression of Wanderers and their prospects.

Distin is understood to have been discouraged from joining Wanderers by agents and advisors who, although not directly involved in the deal, suggested he would be joining a defence destined to become the whipping boys of the Premiership!

Since then the picture has changed considerably and, while no one expects them to stay top of the table long-term Wanderers are looking a much more attractive proposition now than they were before their sensational start to the season.