Bolton sign Salva

Bolton have brought in Spanish international striker Salva Ballesta to bolster their fight for Premiership survival and are confident of holding on to want-away forward Michael Ricketts.

Bolton have agreed a loan deal with Ballesta's club Valencia and, provided the player passes a medical, he will go straight into the squad for Saturday's crucial match against Birmingham, the club announced.

Bolton are currently one point above the relegation zone and manager Sam Allardyce expressed his delight at securing the 27-year-old Ballesta, who joined Valencia in an 11-million-euro deal in 2001 but has since been sidelined at the club.

"We are delighted that all our hard work has finally paid off," Allardyce said Thursday.

"Salva's got a proven track record and has a tremendous pedigree in Spain. "He is strong in the air with a fantastic eye for goal. We are confident he'll score the goals we need to get us out of our current predicamen

Salva hit 25 goals in the 1999/2000 season with Racing Santander before moving to Atletico Madrid and then on to Valencia. He was part of Spain's Euro 2000 squad.

Bolton had indicated they would let Ricketts leave at the right price but have not received any offers close to their reported asking price of four million pounds.

Allardyce insisted the club would not accept any cut-price offers tabled before the transfer window closes on Friday.

"If it doesn't suit me and this football club, he doesn't go," he said, adding that he wanted to seek Ricketts team up with Salva to deliver the goals Bolton will need to beat the drop.