The Trotters' plan to sign Rivaldo looked over after Scottish champions Celtic showed their interest.

But Gartside said that he has received a fax from 32-year-old Rivaldo stating that he wants to complete the move to the Lancashire club.

"I have a fax in my pocket which arrived this morning saying he wants to come to us," Gartside told the club's website.

"It also says he doesn't want to play in Scotland, so we are still hoping to do something with him.

"We've offered him a deal which he's accepted financially and it's just a case of getting together with him to put pen to paper."

The news comes as a surprise after Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said the deal was dead and Rivaldo's agent indicated the player would prefer to join Celtic with the chance to play Champions League next season.

But Gartside revealed that Rivaldo has been back in contact and had accepted terms with the Premiership outfit, who look set to finish seventh in the table following their win at Everton Saturday.

The 1999 FIFA World Palyer of the Year is a free agent after playing just 11 games for Brazilian club Cruzeiro, following his release by Milan in November.

If the contract is signed it would be the biggest signing for Allardyce who has already brought Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo to the northern club.