Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 4:30pm

Trotters join Doyle race

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BOLTON Wanderers are preparing to lodge a £6.5 million bid for Kevin Doyle as the race to sign the Reading striker gathers pace.

Sources in the north west have confirmed the Trotters are ready to match Royals' valuation of the in-demand Republic of Ireland star.

It is understood Reading have already accepted bids from Wolves and Fulham while rumours have emerged that Sunderland are poised to table a similar offer and are also willing to pay around £4 million for winger Stephen Hunt.

Royals are now bracing themselves for a bidding war for Doyle and director of football Nick Hammond says the club is in no rush.

'Kevin Doyle is a proven goalscorer and they are always sought after so of course clubs will be looking at him,' argued Hammond.

'It"s the same situation with Stephen Hunt. I would love them both to be with us here next season, but sometimes you just have to move on.

'We aren"t working to a time frame but if we are going to sell a player it is more beneficial for them to go earlier.

'Saying that, if you do an early deal you may miss the chance of a better deal down the line. It"s only right we get as much as we can for any player we sell on. There has to be a balance.'

Doyle is understood to have held talks with Wolves and Fulham in the past few days.

While the 25-year-old striker would love to join his former Royals team-mate Marcus Hahnemann at Molineux, he could also be swayed by the Cottagers involvement in the Europa League next season.

Trotters boss Gary Megson is also a big fan of Doyle and, with so many clubs willing to meet the asking price, Reading may be tempted to sell to the highest bidder.

Royals will try to sign Watford"s Tommy Smith as a replacement for about £700,000, though Wolves could be ready to hijack that bid.

However, Smith may prefer to join Reading having blossomed under Rodgers in the seven months he was manager at Vicarage Road.

Tottenham"s highly-rated winger Danny Rose and Chelsea youngster Jack Cork - who both played under Royals boss brendan Rodgers at Watford - are other possible targets.

Meanwhile, axed striker Leroy Lita is attracting interest from Crystal Palace.

The 24-year-old striker is a free agent following Reading"s decision not to renew his contract.

Eagles boss Neil Warnock has already spoken with Lita"s agent about joining the Selhurst Park club next season.

'I did have a chat with his agent at the end of the season but financially I don"t think we can get anywhere near him,' the Palace chief told the South London Press.

'I"ll never say anything is dead because it depends what offers he gets. But he"s not a priority - I"ve got to try and get a taller man in.'