Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers are both reported to be on the trail of Marseille defender Aboulaye Meite, the man whose goal knocked Liverpool out of the Uefa Cup.
Meite is out of contract at the Stade Velodrome in the summer and has so far refused offers of a new deal.
The 23-year-old headed home the second in Marseille´s 2-1 success over The Reds and both Sam Allardyce and Graeme Souncess watched the game.
Marseille full back Demetrius Ferreira was understood to be the prime target of both managers, but Meite has now been added to each of their wanted lists.
Allardyce is determined to bolster his squad with Bosmans and Meite fits the ball.
" I´m looking at players that are out of contract in the summer and I want to get the deals done soon," said Allardyce.
" That will give us a chance to snap up players before other sides are on to them.
" And it stops me turning up for pre-season with just 11 players."
Allardyce is also reported to be closing in on Real Sociedad´s Javi De Pedro - but he is thought to face competition from Manchester City.
Southampton had a long-standing interest the Spaniard, but the change of management at St Mary´s means they are now unlikely to come back for him.
Blackburn, coincidentally, tried to lure De Pedro to Ewood Park in January and he may too decide to rival Allardyce for the winger´s signature.