Bolton Wanderers have confirmed that Kaizer Chiefs and Zambian international striker Collins Mbesuma will spend a week with the English Premiership club training and completing a number of fitness tests with a view to signing the 21-year-old on a permanent basis.

Mbesuma caught the attention of Bolton and several other European teams with a sensational performance in the past season. He scored a record 35 goals and was crowned the Premier Soccer League’s Player of the Year.

So far Bolton is the only club that has shown a keen interest in signing the young Zambian by inviting him over for a medical check.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce confirmed this week that he is keen to sign the Zambian international, who scored an incredible 35 goals for the Chiefs in their championship winning season last term in the South African National League.

"Collins will join us over the weekend and will spend a week training with the first team," confirmed Allardyce through the club’s official website.

Allardyce added: "He looks a tremendous prospect and it will give me a great opportunity to see him in the flesh and how he integrates with the rest of the squad. If things go well we should be in a position to sign the player on a permanent deal."

New Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp said he was aware of the pending move to England by Mbesuma and that the team would be able to deliver in the absence of Ntofontofo.

"I knew for a while that he would probably leave the club and I came here prepared for that. Reports indicate that he is no longer a Kaizer Chiefs player. But it’s still a process before the deal can be finalised and anything can happen," said Middendorp.

"To me Collins is still our player but I must make other options in case his deal goes through. No doubt he is a quality player but I am positive that we will be able to do the job without him should he leave," he added.

The German coach said the focus was on the pre-season tournament Vodacom Challenge and getting the players physically fit for the upcoming season.

"My technical team should share the mentality I have, and the players should also have the same. And I sure Kaizer has the same mentality. It’s all about winning, winning and winning and we must be focused all the time whether it’s a preparation match, league match or cup match," said the Amakhosi coach.