Bolton are ready to offer Fulham’s Liam Rosenior a season-long loan at the Reebok Stadium although the Premier League strugglers are expected to face competition from Portsmouth and Reading.
Rosenior, who was Fulham’s only ever-present player in the league last season, has been told he has no future at Craven Cottage under Lawrie Sanchez, prompting Sammy Lee, Bolton’s manager, to express interest in taking the former England Under-21 international north.
Portsmouth are also keen on the defender although Harry Redknapp will need to trim his squad before he can facilitate Rosenior’s arrival. Reading, mindful that Graeme Murty, the club’s first-choice right-back, will be 33 in November, are monitoring Rosenior’s position but Aston Villa will not be submitting a bid for the 23-year-old despite speculation that a move is imminent. Martin O’Neill, Villa’s manager, is in the market for a right-back but he has turned his attention elsewhere.
Fulham are looking for around £3m for Rosenior, who has made 92 appearances for the club since joining from Bristol City for £55,000 in 2003.
The Premier League club are anxious to keep Rosenior’s valuation high as Bristol City agreed a sell-on clause that entitles them to 20% of any future transfer fee. Fulham’s asking price is likely to be beyond Bolton, who would prefer a loan agreement, with Lee keen to embellish a squad that has suffered three straight Premier League defeats.
