COLIN Todd is ready to turn to the Continent once again in his effort to keep Wanderers' Premiership hopes alive.

After being told by Oxford United that Joey Beauchamp is not for sale, the Bolton boss is running the rule over two Portuguese trialists and is making moves to land other foreign-based players.

"I would like to think I could have someone in before the weekend," he said today.

The two trialists from Portugal trained with Wanderers this morning and have been pencilled in for tomorrow night's reserve team game away to West Brom. They could also have at least one other continental player involved at non-league Halesowen Town.

I understand the Portuguese pair - one who plays on the right of midfield, the other on the left - have been flown in by an agent and were previously unknown to Wanderers.

Todd has reached near-desperation point in his search for fresh talent - a striker and a wide right player being his priorities - to strengthen his survival squad. He revealed at the weekend that he has made numerous efforts to bring players in but admits to having been continually frustrated both at home and abroad as the March 26 transfer deadline approaches.

That was the case when he made his enquiry for Beauchamp, Oxford's £1.5 million midfielder, who scored his 15th goal of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win at Manchester City.

The First Division club, previously under serious pressure to unload players to stay alive, raked in £1.1 million with the sales of Bob Ford (£400,000 to Sheffield United), Nigel Jemson (£100,000 to Bury) and Darren Purse (£600,000 to Birmingham). Manager Malcolm Shotton is now able to concentrate all his efforts on beating the drop.

Todd confirmed: "I have tried for a lot of wide right players and Beauchamp is one. But Oxford don't have to sell players any more.

"If they are safe by transfer deadline day it might be a different ball game."

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