Bolton boss Gary Megson has confirmed he is keen to sign £9million-rated Toulouse striker Johan Elmander as a replacement for Nicolas Anelka.Megson has targeted the Sweden international following the Frenchman's £15million switch to Chelsea.

Elmander has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe over the last few years for club and country.

Megson admits he has been keeping tabs on Elmander for the last few years and would like to bring him to the Reebok Stadium.

"I saw Johan play a couple of years ago with Brondby," said Megson.

"He's one we would be interested in, but whether we can get it done is another thing."

However, Megson insists the Trotters will not waste their cash following the sale of Anelka.

"We were looking to spend what I thought was really good money before Nicolas left, so there are funds available," he added. "But we're not going to be doing things like a kid in a sweet shop, buying just for the sake of buying.

"It's very easy to spend money on bad players - the trick is to find good players to spend your money on.

"Nothing's particularly changed in terms of the targets that we've got. What has changed is an impetus to try to replace Nic as quickly as we possibly can."

Although Megson has agreed a fee with Portsmouth for Matty Taylor, Pompey are unwilling to sell until they have found an adequate replacement for the left-sided midfielder.

Megson has encountered a similar problem with another club - and he admits he is becoming increasingly frustrated with his attempts to boost his squad for the second half of the season.

"The disappointment for me as we approach the Blackburn game isn't just that Nic's left; it's the fact we've not been able to get anybody else in, apart from Tamir Cohen - which was last week," he said.

"We've lodged three bids with other clubs, one which has been accepted and is a lot of money. It was sorted out eight days ago. But the club has turned round and said he can't go until they get their own players in, which is hard to stomach.

"It's very strange that you have a deal accepted and everything's done - the paperwork, the whole lot - and yet we can't get permission to talk to the player.

"I'd like to have had all the players we want in for this game, but that's not the case," he added.

"It's disappointing and frustrating, but I don't think we're the only club having difficulties bringing players in at this time of year.

"People realise what position you're in, and it doesn't put you in a particularly strong bargaining position. But we'll keep trying to bring other players in and also finalise that one."

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