WANDERERS remain dead serious about signing Gillingham skipper Kyle Dempsey and expect to make progress once the final whistle sounds on Saturday evening.

Ian Evatt has waited patiently for the Kent club to make a firm decision on whether they will sell their influential captain but The Bolton News understands there will be no improvement on the current offer on the table, which totals around £150,000 plus bonuses.

Gills chairman Paul Scally has delayed talks as much as he can, ensuring Dempsey featured against Shrewsbury in midweek and Oxford United on Saturday.

But Bolton are pressing for a final answer and if the deal does not progress this weekend they will turn their attention to bringing a player in on loan, revisiting Dempsey this summer when he is likely to be available on a free transfer.

Evatt added Kieran Sadlier to his squad yesterday to strengthen his attacking options but still lacks a tenacious number 10 or eight, which is now his last job before Monday night.

Wanderers see Dempsey as a step up on ex-skipper Antoni Sarcevic and are willing to make him their most expensive single outlay of the transfer window.

The deal to sign striker Dion Charles from Accrington Stanley will eventually be worth £320,000 but has been agreed in instalments.

Aaron Morley’s move from Rochdale was worth just under £100,000 and incentivised based on his success at the UniBol.

Dempsey would be a significant outlay of cash to Gillingham, which would theoretically allow their new manager to bring in some of his own players to help their relegation fight.

Meanwhile, Wanderers are also offering striker Nathan Delfouneso the chance to find a new club before Monday’s deadline.

The arrival of Sadlier has pushed the former Blackpool man further down the pecking order and though he has filled in for Wanderers this season, he is no longer considered a first team option.

Ronan Darcy, Matt Alexander and Luke Hutchinson may also leave on loan before the deadline if the right club makes their move. Wanderers have now made six new additions in the transfer window and extended the loan of Xavier Amaechi from Hamburg.