SAM Allardyce has been linked with the Portuguese international full-back, Rui Jorge, as he continues to scour the globe for defensive reinforcements.

Wanderers were making no comment today but reports claim they are in talks with the 32-year-old, who is a free agent after failing to agree a new contract with Sporting Lisbon.

Sporting are still trying to strike an agreement with the vastly-experienced and highly-respected defender, who played for them up to the semi-final stages of the UEFA Cup last season, but the Italian club, Messina, are also believed to be trying to tempt him away from Portugal.

Jorge, who has been capped 44 times by Portugal and featured in their Euro 2004 squad, made his name at Porto before joining Sporting in 1998.

Allardyce, who was disappointed to miss out on former Newcastle and Southampton full-back Olivier Bernard, who joined Rangers on transfer deadline day, is short of experienced cover for both full-back positions in a squad he considers is still lacking the depth to maintain a challenge on the domestic and European fronts.

Wanderers, meanwhile, are still waiting to receive their allocation of tickets for the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie against Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

They have been given verbal assurances that they will receive 1,900 tickets for the game, which is being played at the Black Sea resort of Burgas on Thursday, September 29.