Bolton's Coyle might pursue Ream move

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 15, 2011

[AMERICANS ABROAD] While the New York Red Bulls insist they no intention of selling Tim Ream, Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle says he might make a move to acquire the young defender, who has been training at the EPL club this week after spending time the week before at West Bromwich Albion.

"Would we like to have him at the football club? Absolutely," Coyle said. "Red Bulls have said that he is not for sale and that is totally understandable -- I would say that about my top players."

Two years ago, Coyle pursued another American, Stuart Holden, then a free agent with the Houston Dynamo and brought him to Bolton. And he looks at Ream like he did Holden, currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

"Tim Ream is an outstanding player," said Coyle. "He is someone I have known about for a couple of years now and I have watched his games extensively. He has a lot of similar qualities to Stuart Holden, in terms of mentality and how he sees the game and wants to progress, and those are attributes I love."

Coyle acknowledged the circumstances are different. Holden came over looking to sign in the EPL in early 2010. Ream's stint in England is part of a program for young MLS players to train in the offseason in Europe.

"He is a New York Red Bulls player and I wouldn't say anything else beside that because you have to respect that he has come in for a week's training with the permission of the club," said Coyle. "We'll leave it at that for the moment, and we'll see what January brings."