Bolton Wanderers

Benitez low key on Figo transfer
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has played down reports of moves for Real Madrid trio Luis Figo, Raul and Guti. Figo is the latest to linked with Liverpool, with Bolton and Qatari club Al Rayyan also showing an interest. But Benitez told El Mundo Deportivo: "There are many people at Real Madrid that we are aware of, but we really know our limitations. "There are players that cannot leave and there are others we do not want, but the press link them to us. Qatar has emerged as one of several possible destinations for Figo, who has been told he can leave the Spanish giants. Fernando Hierro, one of the 32-year-old former Portugal captain's former Real team-mates, is at Al Rayyan. "We know about Liverpool's offer but we are able to offer much more money," said Al Rayyan president Ali Al Moaimi. If Figo, who has one year left on his Real contract, joined Bolton it would be a huge boost ahead of their first appearance in Europe. Figo's former Madrid team-mates Hierro and Ivan Campo have both made the trip from the Bernebeu to Bolton in recent years. But Allardyce has admitted: "It's flattering to be linked with one of the world's greatest players. In all honesty, it would be very difficult to afford a player of Figo's calibre."

Bolton complete signing of Diouf
Liverpool forward El-Hadji Diouf has joined Bolton on a four-year deal after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old Senegal international scored nine goals during a season-long loan spell with Wanderers in 2004/5, helping them qualify for the Uefa Cup. "He has all the skills to become one of our most significant signings in the modern era," boss Sam Allardyce said. "Last season he was a revelation. We will give him the platform he needs to become one of Europe's top strikers." Former African player of the year Diouf joined Liverpool from Lens for £11m after the 2002 World Cup, but failed to make an impact at Anfield. But he rediscovered his best form at the Reebok Stadium and ended up as their top scorer last season. The Bolton fans have made me welcome and are always chanting my name El-Hadji Diouf The attacker has been dogged by controversy at both Liverpool and Bolton - twice running into trouble for spitting at fans - but Allardyce believes he can put that behind him. Allardyce added: "He has had a turbulent last few years but now he can take all that pressure off his shoulders and concentrate on playing football at the highest level." Diouf told Bolton's website: "Sam Allardyce is the best manager I've ever worked with. He makes you feel important and most of all lets you play football without worrying about anything else. "Last season was my best spell for nearly five years and gave me an understanding that my career was going nowhere at Liverpool. "The Bolton fans have made me welcome and are always chanting my name. "As a player that makes you feel so proud and all you want to do is play to your best and not let the fans down - they mean a lot to me."

Premiership trio head to Thailand
Everton, Bolton and Manchester City will all compete in the Premier League Trophy in Bangkok later in the summer. The trio will be joined by the Thai national team for the four-team knockout tournament. The English teams will also visit the island of Phuket to meet survivors of the tsunami disaster. "The passion and interest in the Premier League in Thailand meant it was a natural choice," said Premier League chief Dave Richards. The tournament will take place at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on 20 and 23 July. And Richards added: "By holding an event in Thailand we look forward to building on the strong relationships and enormous interest the Premier League enjoys throughout Asia. "In addition to the £1m donation we made to the Indian Ocean Appeal, we hope to help highlight the recovery of the region since the Indian Ocean earthquake as well as provide some presents and coaching for local children." The competition will be the second of its type to be held outside England. Chelsea, Newcastle and Birmingham all competed in Malaysia in 2003.

Brown 'favourite for Derby job'
Bolton assistant boss Phil Brown has emerged as the new favourite to become Derby's next manager after Billy Davies decided to sign a new deal at Preston. BBC Radio Derby reports that the Rams are set to make an approach to Bolton chairman Phil Garside this weekend. And it is believed that Wanderers will not stand in the 46-year-old's way. Yeovil gave the Rams permission this week to talk to Gary Johnson, while former Italy keeper Walter Zenga has also been linked with the position. Tranmere boss Brian Little has ruled himself out of the running, and Middlesbrough coach Steve Round has also been mentioned. Derby chief executive Jeremy Keith is hoping to find a successor soon for George Burley, who quit on 8 June. Brown worked alongside Bolton boss Sam Allardyce at Blackpool and has been his assistant at Wanderers since October 1999. He was linked with Burnley before Steve Cotterill was appointed last year.

Jaidi agrees new Bolton contract
Radhi Jaidi has agreed in principle to sign a new two-year contract extension with Bolton. The 29-year-old defender is expected to put pen to paper after returning from the Confederations Cup, where he is playing for Tunisia. He has had a change of heart after handing in a transfer request - which Wanderers rejected - last month. Jaidi, who joined Bolton from Tunisian side Esperance last summer, had 12 months left on his existing deal.

Football spitting trial delayed
A £40,000-a-week Premiership footballer is to stand trial accused of spitting at a fan during a game on Teesside. But a special hearing must be held first to determine what evidence can be put to the court. Bolton Wanderers striker El-Hadji Diouf, 24, is accused of spitting at a fan during his team's Premiership clash with Middlesbrough in November 2004. At a short pre-trial review on Tuesday, it was decided to adjourn the case until 1 August to review evidence. The Senegalese international has denied a charge of disorderly conduct under Section 5 of the 1986 Public Order Act. Excused attendance The case was adjourned at the pre-trial review at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after Diouf's solicitor, Alan Walsh, said he wished to oppose a Crown Prosecution Service application to put certain evidence at the full trial, which would require a separate hearing. The player, who did not attend the hearing, was also excused attending the next hearing, to be held at the same court on 1 August. The 30-cap striker, twice named African Player of the Year, recently signed for Bolton from Liverpool after a spell on loan. He was brought to England by former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier who bought him from French club Lens for £10m in 2002. The 24-year-old has been granted legal aid to fight the case.

McDonald completes Palace switch
Bolton first-team coach Neil McDonald has joined Crystal Palace as assistant manager to Iain Dowie. McDonald, 39, agreed the move last week but has now completed the formalities and will take over from Kit Symons. Symons will assume responsibilities for the reserve team after 18 months as Dowie's assistant. McDonald joined the Trotters in 2000 and worked as youth team coach and reserve manager before taking up his coaching role with the first team. But despite playing his part in helping Bolton qualify for Europe for the first time in their history he said "the time is right to move on". He added: "Iain's offered me a fantastic opportunity and I'm looking forward to a new challenge. "Being a coach at Bolton, a lot of the time I would sit back, listen and learn. Now I'm going to have the added responsibility of being a number two and it's a challenge I'm looking forward to. "I've left Bolton on a massive high and feel it's a natural progression for me to go from a first-team coach and become an assistant manager. "I've been at Bolton for five years and am proud to have played a part in the club's success."

Bolton keep eye on Kyrgiakos deal
Rangers have been warned that Bolton are waiting in the wings in case the Sotirios Kyrgiakos transfer collapses. The Greece defender moved to Ibrox on a six-month loan deal from Panathinaikos in January, but concluding a permanent transfer has proven problematical. And Bolton boss Sam Allardyce told the Manchester Evening News: "We have had an eye on the player for quite a while, but we've not taken it any further. "We have been watching what he's been doing with great interest." The 25-year-old Kyrgiakos is on Confederations Cup duty with his country while Rangers continue negotiations. "But it would be fair to say that Kyrgiakos has interested me for some time." Rangers have the option of paying an additional £1m on top of the £500,000 already paid. And the Scottish champions last week dismissed suggestions by agent Phanis Klonopoulos that Panathinaikos had taken back the player and would sell him to another club. "Discussions with the player's actual representative are ongoing," said a club spokesperson, who stressed that Klonopoulos had no involvement in the latest talks. "Panathinaikos is well aware of the contractual situation with regard to the player and, indeed, that Rangers FC currently holds the player's registration." Kyrgiakos moved to Rangers in January and helped the Glasgow club win the title. He wanted to return to Rangers, but there have been reports that the Scottish champions were trying to drive down the price following concerns over an old knee injury. Kyrgiakos had arrived at Ibrox as a replacement for Jean-Alain Boumsong after the Frenchman was sold to Newcastle United for £8m in January. Rangers this month completed the signing of Hibernian captain Ian Murray on a free transfer and the Scotland international is able to play at the back. But he is not a traditional centre-half in the mould of Kyrgiakos. Meanwhile, reports have suggested that Aston Villa and Middlesbrough are among the clubs interested in Rangers midfielder Dragan Mladenovic. The Serbian international spent the second half of last season on loan at Real Sociedad.

McCarthy is eager to leave Porto
Porto striker Benni McCarthy says he is desperate to leave Portugal - which could open the door for Premiership clubs Blackburn and Bolton to sign him. McCarthy, 27, has long talked of his desire to play in England and has now fallen out with Porto's management. "I'm tired of so much ingratitude and falsehood," the South African said. "I deserve to live in peace. It would be best if I go elsewhere to seek the happiness Porto can no longer give me." he told Portugese sports daily A Bola. McCarthy, who has two years left on his current contract, almost joined Everton in last season's January transfer window and has repeatedly talked of his dream of playing in the Premiership. "In South Africa, when I was a child, I only watched English football. It is an obsession that I have," he said.

Bolton join hunt to sign Dacourt
Olivier Dacourt's agent has confirmed that Bolton are among the clubs hoping to sign Roma's French international. But Peter Harrison said they would face competition for the midfielder, 30. "There are other clubs in England and Spain who are interested as he is a quality player, so we will just see how the situation materialises," he said. "It is clearly possible Olivier could return to the Premiership. He already has extensive experience of England and likes how the game is played here." Should Dacourt join the Uefa Cup contenders, they would become his third club in England after previous stints with Everton and Leeds. Despite guiding Bolton into Europe for the first time in their history, Trotters boss Sam Allardyce's has found it difficult to lure new recruits to the Reebok. Apart from completing the permanent transfer of Senegal forward El-Hadji Diouf from Liverpool, the Trotters chief has so far drawn a blank.

Giannakopoulos keeps boss waiting
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is desperate for Stelios Giannakopoulos to put an end to speculation about his future and extend his current contract. Giannakopoulos, 30, has 12 months left on his deal but reports in Greece say he is set to join Liverpool for £1.2m. Allardyce told the Bolton Evening News: "I'm not sure what Liverpool are doing, but they seem to be linked with everybody at the moment." Defenders Tal Ben Haim and Nicky Hunt are also yet to agree new deals.

Lee becomes Bolton assistant boss
Bolton have named Sammy Lee as their new assistant manager following the departure of Phil Brown to Derby. Lee leaves his full-time role as National Coach at the Football Association, but remains on England's coaching staff on a part-time basis. "The opportunity Sam Allardyce has offered me with Bolton is too good to ignore," said Lee. "Bolton are a club that has made incredible progress in recent years and it will be great to join them." Lee continued: "It will be great to join them as they kick off their first ever European campaign. "I'm also delighted that I will be continuing my role with the England team as we continue our qualification matches for next year's World Cup. "I'd like to pay tribute to Bolton and the FA for allowing me the honour of maintaining my role with the national team." Lee, 46, made over 200 appearances for Liverpool and won two European Cups, three League Championships and four League Cups during his playing career. He also played for QPR, Real Osasuna, Southampton and Bolton. He was a regular member of the coaching staff with the England Under-21 side before moving on to become a full-time member of Eriksson's staff in the summer of 2004. Brown had been assistant at Bolton since Allardyce took over in 1999 but left Wanderers to become the new manager at Derby.

Oman keeper makes Bolton switch
Bolton have completed a deal for Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi. The 23-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year deal but will finish the Norwegian season with Lyn Oslo before arriving in October. "My dream has finally come true," Al Habsi told www.footballasia.com. "It is an achievement I have always dreamt of and I am ready to join Bolton. "I promised my fans that I would move to the English Premier League and now it has come true." Habsi was voted the best keeper in Norway last season and won the same accolade at the last two Gulf Cups. And he has vowed to dislodge Jussi Jaaskelainen as the number one goalkeeper at the Reebok Stadium. He added: "My ambition is to be Bolton's first choice. This move will give my career a big push forward. "It is a great thing because the Premier League is the best division in the world."

Mbesuma is Bolton target
Zambia striker Collins Mbesuma is expected to begin transfer talks with English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers next week. The 21-year-old Mbesuma scored 35 goals for South Africa champions Kaizer Chiefs last season. "Collins Mbesuma is a player who would interest us. He is a prolific goalscorer who has had a fantastic season in South Africa," said Bolton manager Sam Allardyce. Allardyce currently heads the queue for Mbesuma, whose form guaranteed him the Player of the Year and Golden Boot awards in South Africa. Chiefs are resigned to losing their best player but feel they cannot stand in his way. "He is the best I have come across in terms of a striker," said Bobby Motaung, the General Manager of Kaizer Chiefs. "He is a targetman who is very strong, very intelligent and very difficult to mark. "He is not the type of player who comes into a game for a few minutes or 10 minutes. "He is someone you have to keep an eye on for 90 minutes. "I know he will do a good job for Bolton if they sign him because he will have no trouble coping with the demands of the Premiership. He will deliver. "I would have loved to have kept him for another year or two, but we appreciate this is an opportunity for the young man, one he must take with both hands," Motaung said.

Diouf faces assault allegations
Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf is being investigated by Dakar police, following accusations that he assaulted a woman. Aicha Ba was allegedly attacked by the former African Footballer of the Year in a nightclub on Monday. Ba is said to have had a relationship with one of Diouf's international team-mates. She accused the Bolton Wanderers forward of initiating "acts that were intended to humiliate" her. Ba also claimed to have been examined by a doctor who advised her to "rest for 25 days to recover from the physical and mental trauma" of the incident. A police spokesman in Dakar has confirmed to BBC Sport that they have commenced investigations into the allegations. "A police commissioner is currently looking into the case," the spokesman said.

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