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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours,
Bolton Linked With Spanish Midfielder
Bolton Wanderers are being linked with a £5 million bid for Celta Vigo midfielder Roberto Trashorras.
The 29-year-old is said by Spanish website fichajes.com to be a target for Owen Coyle as he seeks to strengthen his midfield.
In many ways Trashorras would be a surprising target given the fact that he will be 30 in February and the fact that he has spent practically all his career outside the top flight in Spanish football.
After a single appearance for Barcelona in 2001 he moved to Real Madrid but got no further than the club’s B team before moving on to second tier side Numancia in 2005. After just 12 appearances there he moved to UD Las Palmas and then to Celta in 2008. He had the best season of his career last season helping Celta to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey and scoring nine goals in 38 appearances for the club.
Bolton face competition for his signature from Atletico Madrid.
Bolton Set For Al-Habsi Bids
Meanwhile, Bolton could well be parting company with goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi. The Oman international has been on loan at Wigan Athletic since the end of August and has nailed down a regular starting spot with a string of impressive performances that have kept Chris Kirkland out of the team.
Bolton are believed to want around £5 million for the 28-year-old who is also believed to have attracted the attentions of Fulham and Aston Villa.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle was guarded in his answers as to whether Wanderers were looking to make the Wigan deal a permanent one although he said on Tuesday:
“If a bid comes in we’ll sit down with Ali and his advisors and look at it.
“We can’t really talk about it until it happens. We know he’s been playing well, but we knew he was a top goalkeeper when we loaned him out.
“He needed to play and it was a great deal business-wise for the club and it allowed Ali to play Premier League matches as well as enabling us to promote Adam Bogdan, who is also an excellent keeper.
“It was a win, win situation for us. If a bid comes in January, well look at it, and do the right thing for the football club.”
Al-Habsi joined Bolton from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo in January 2006 but has made just 10 Premier League appearances for the Trotters since then.
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Bolton 2-1 Blackburn: Coyle Praises Team Spirit
Allardyce Rues ‘Diabolical’ Goal
Bolton boss Owen Coyle says he was delighted by the spirit his side showed in defeating Blackburn 2-1 at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday despite going down to ten men for the final half hour.
Stuart Holden hit an 88th minute winner immediately after Blackburn had equalised, much to the delight of his manager.
“The spirit this group has got, it doesn’t surprise me,” Coyle said after the match.
“They went up the park again, scored a magnificent goal by Stuart Holden, and then had to stand up and be big and brave to the pressure that Blackburn put us under later on.”
A largely uneventful first half was followed by a second half that sprang into life just before the hour when Bolton’s Mark Davies was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Coyle shuffled the Bolton pack, bringing off Chung-yong Lee and putting on Fabrice Muamba and seven minutes later Muamba gave Bolton the lead, twisting and turning in the box after picking up Ryan Nelsen’s clearance and firing past goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Blackburn turned the screw and got their reward through their own substitute, Mame Biram Diouf who slotted past Jaaskelainen from close range to equalise with just three minutes left. But just ten seconds after the restart Stuart Holden volleyed past Robinson and despite six minutes of injury time Bolton held on for three points that puts them in sixth place in the Premier League table.
Coyle felt the sending-off changed the game but for the good as far as Bolton were concerned.
“It did change the game but only because Blackburn felt that because with the extra man they could push forward and win the game. They paid us a huge complement the way they set up to begin with a lot of men behind the ball and playing on the counter-attack, so we actually passed the ball with ten men than we did with 11. So in adversity it has probably helped us but that’s because of the spirit we have.”
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce was frustrated at the manner of his side’s defeat at a ground where Rovers haven’t lost in ten years.
“The old adage ‘we’ve shot ourselves in the foot’ comes to mind,” said the former Bolton boss.
“Eleven v eleven we were never in any trouble and we probably created the better chances…but when they went down to ten men we thought the only way they could possibly score was through a set play. So what do we do – we give away a free kick, they put the ball in our box and they score a goal.
“To do what we did after we scored our goal was just diabolical from my point of view in terms of our lack of concentration and our lack of professionalism.”
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 8 December
Bolton In Frame For Real Madrid Teenager
Bolton Wanderers are in the frame to sign Real Madrid teenager Sergio Canales.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder came to prominence with Racing Santander for whom he made his debut in 2008 at the age of 17.
Canales signed for Real Madrid last summer for a down-payment of 4.5 million euros but he has been unable to break into the first team at the Bernabeu and has made just seven appearances under Jose Mourinho, only three of which have come in La Liga.
Bolton have two former Real youngsters in their ranks in defender Marcos Alonso and striker Rodrigo Moreno, on loan from Benfica. However, the Wanderers face competition for Canales from West Ham, Sporting Lisbon and his former club Racing.
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Bolton Wanderers: Davies Brands City Players “An Embarrassment
Bolton Player Withdraws Twitter Comments
Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies has called Manchester City’s players “an embarrassment” after the two sides’ game at the City Of Manchester stadium on Saturday.
Bolton went down to their first defeat for over a month thanks to an early goal from Carlos Tevez but Davies condemned the tactics of some of the City players after some went down a little too easily for him.
“When there is not much contact and they go down screaming, it’s embarrassing from a man’s point of view,” Davies said.
“There are a lot of European players in their squad and I think that’s something they are taught on the continent.
“It’s frustrating and embarrassing at times. Its part of our game, unfortunately, and you need the referee to sort it out. And I thought he did okay.”
However, Davies retracted a comment he made on his Twitter site when he criticised Tevez’s reaction to being substituted, questioning the team spirit at City.
On Saturday night Davies wrote: “Seeing Tevez reaction to being subbed assures me there is problems within City, great players individually but as a team?” Yesterday, he apologised saying “Just wanted to say sorry for commenting on City last night. Not really my place to comment on other clubs and not on here to do that.”
After the match Davies also suggested that City are some “four to five years” away from winning a Premier League title. “I don’t think they are going to win it this year,” he said. “I don’t think they are quite there yet.”
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Bolton Wanderers: Chelsea Linked with Cahill; Holden Doubt for City
Chelsea ‘Register Interest’ In Cahill
Chelsea are the latest club to be linked with a January bid for Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
The Daily Mirror reports that the Blues have registered an interest with Bolton for Cahill ahead of a January bid.
Wanderers look set to sell the 24-year-old after reporting debts last month of £93 million. At the time chairman Phil Gartside suggested that if a club still in the Champions League came in for Cahill then he would be minded to sell. Arsenal and Spurs have both been linked with a move, though Arsene Wenger now says it is unlikely he will sign anyone in January. Liverpool are also said to be interested in paying £10 million for Cahill, though the fact they aren’t in the Champions League and the release clause in Cahill’s contract set at £15 million.
Chelsea’s defensive frailties were highlighted when they fielded Paulo Ferreira and Branislav Ivanovic as a makeshift central pairing against Sunderland. John Terry’s absence has seen them lose top spot in the Premier League and a dip into the transfer market in January is looking more likely.
Bolton are said to be interested in Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies as a replacement for Cahill. Davies is currently on loan from Villa at Championship side Leicester City.
Holden Doubt For City Game
Meanwhile Bolton are set to be without midfielder Stuart Holden for the visit to Manchester City on Saturday. Holden missed the 2-2 draw with Blackpool with a thigh strain and hasn’t fully recovered.
“Stuart Holden missed out last week – he has been very influential for us,” Bolton boss Owen Coyle said on Thursday.
“He hasn’t trained up to this point so we will give him the next couple of days to see where he is at and take it from there.”
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 1 December
Liverpool Latest To Be Linked With Cahill
Liverpool are the latest side to be linked with a move for Bolton defender Gary Cahill. With Jamie Carragher out of action for up to three months Roy Hodgson is lining up a £10 million bid for Cahill, according to the Daily Star.
The 24-year-old has attracted rave reviews for his performances this season as Wanderers have surged into the top half of the Premier League table and made his England debut when he came on as a substitute in their game with Bulgaria in September.
Arsenal have also been linked with a January bid for Cahill, who has a release clause of £15 million in his contract following his England debut. Wanderers are likely to ask for £18 million as they try to reduce some of their £93 million debts.
Fulham In For Al-Habsi – Report
Bolton keeper Ali Al-Habsi could be the subject of a bid from Fulham. The Oman international went on loan to Wigan at the start of the season and Latics are known to be keen to make the deal permanent after a string of impressive performances by the 28-year-old have kept former first-choice keeper Chris Kirkland out of the Wigan team.
Bolton value Al-Habsi at £5 million but with Mark Schwarzer still considering a new contract and set to miss much of January on Asian Cup duty with Australia, Fulham boss Mark Hughes could yet launch a bid for Al-Habsi in the January transfer window.
Bolton Linked With Rakitic Bid
Bolton are one of three clubs interested in signing Schalke midfielder Ivan Rakitic. The 22-year-old has declined a contract extension with the Bundesliga side and looks set to leave Schalke in the January transfer window.
The Croatian signed for Schalke from Swiss side Basel in 2007 and had made over 100 appearances for the club including four in this season’s Champions League, however, he is said to be out of favour at the Gelsenkirchen outfit.
Serie A sides Palermo and Juventus are also said to be interested in the Swiss-born Croatia international who has already made 25 appearances for his country.
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Bolton Wanderers Set To Lose Lee For A Month
Winger Could Be Called Up For Whole Of January
Bolton Wanderers look set to lose winger Chung-Yong Lee for the whole of January.
Lee looks set to be named in the South Korean squad for the Asian Cup tournament, which takes place in Qatar from 7 – 29 January. Lee would miss up to six Wanderers games if he makes the squad.
Boss Owen Coyle says he has not had any contact as yet from the South Korean FA but would have to let Lee go under Fifa rules.
“If and when that comes about, then it’s something I will look at,” Coyle said on Friday.
Lee’s final match would be the game with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 29 December. He would then miss the league games with Liverpool (away), Wigan (home), Stoke (away) and Chelsea (home) as well as the FA Cup tie with York. If his side reach the final he could also miss the home game with Wolves on 1 February.
Lee is a key member of the Bolton side and last week signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2013.
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Monday 29 November
Liverpool Eye Up Elmander
Liverpool are watching Bolton striker Johan Elmander.
Reds’ boss Roy Hodgson and his assistant Sammy Lee were at Bolton’s game with Blackpool on Saturday amidst reports that Elmander is on the Anfield radar.
The Swede is out of contract at the end of the season and is said to have been offered a new one-year deal on lower wages than the £50,000 a week he earns at present. Elmander is on a purple patch having hit eight goals in the opening 15 league games after a bare two years since his £8.5 million transfer from Toulouse.
Hodgson has tried to sign Elmander before, when he was manager at Fulham and is currently looking for cover for Fernando Torres. However, Elmander is looking for first-team football rather than a place on the bench. Bolton have their own transfer targets but are in a ‘sell-before-you-can-buy’ situation after it was revealed the club have debts of £93 million and may have to sell some of their star names to bring the debt down.
Spartak Moscow and Fenerbahce are also said to be interested in Elmander who is likely to bring in about £3 million for the Wanderers.
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Bolton Wanderers’ Elmander Stalls On New Contract
Elmander Could Go In January
Bolton striker Johan Elmander has stalled on a new contract with Bolton.
The Swede, who has hit eight goals this season and is now the Premier League’s second-highest scorer, has been offered a new one-year deal at the Reebok, according to the Daily Mirror but is not yet willing to commit.
The paper suggests he may play out the season and leave on a free transfer next summer though Bolton boss Owen Coyle may listen to offers for the striker in January if he doesn’t sign a new deal.
Elmander endured two lean years at Wanderers after signing from Toulouse for £8.5 million in 2008 but with his rise in form Liverpool, Newcastle and Stoke are all said to be interested as well as Russian side Spartak Moscow and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce. If Elmander does leave in January it could be for a knock-down £3 million.
Earlier this month Coyle suggested that Elmander will be offered a new deal but on lower terms than his current deal.
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Bolton’s Chung-Yong Lee Extends Contract
New Deal Lasts To 2013
Bolton Wanderers winger Chung-Yong Lee has extended his contract with the club until 2013.
The 22-year-old has made a big impression since signing for Bolton in a £2.2 million deal from FC Seoul in 2009. He made 34 league appearances last season, scoring four goals, and has been an ever-present in this season’s side which has seen Bolton race up the Premier League to fifth position.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle expressed his delight with Lee’s new deal saying “It is terrific that the club are tying down young players like Chung-Yong and are building for the future, particularly given all the things that have been written about us financially.”
The club’s accounts up to the end of last season showed debts of £93 million and chairman Phil Gartside has suggested that players could be sold to bring down the debts.
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 14 November
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Italian Giants Eye Up Cahill
Roma are the latest side to run the rule over Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill.
Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside admitted this week that Cahill could be sold as the club attempts to eat in to its £93 million debt mountain and while Arsenal and Spurs are both said to be interested, the Serie A side are believed to have sent a two-man delegation over to England to watch Cahill in action last week.
The 24-year-old has a release clause in his contract that was reported to have increased to between £15 and 17.5 million upon him making his England debut against Bulgaria in September.
Bolton signed Cahill from Aston Villa for a fee of £5.5 million in 2008 and since then he has been a mainstay of the Wanderers defence. He was linked with a £14 million move for Arsenal during the close season and the Emirates may well be his eventual destination despite Owen Coyle’s hopes of holding on to him until the end of the season.
Cahill appeared as Bolton defeated Wolves 3-2 on Saturday, a result that takes them up to fifth in the Premier League table.
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Friday 12 November
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Arsenal and Spurs Could Be In For Cahill
Arsenal and Spurs are both being linked with a move for Bolton defender Gary Cahill in January.
The Reebok Stadium side reported a £35.4 million loss on Wednesday and with debts standing at £93 million chairman Phil Gartside has admitted that if a Champions League side comes calling then he won’t be able to stand in Cahill’s way.
Cahill has a release clause in his contract that has increased to £15 million with his England debut in September. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger considered putting in a bid of around £14 million during the close season but instead signed central defenders Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny for roughly the same price but with Thomas Vermaelen expected to spend an extended period on the sidelines Wenger could make a move for Cahill in January.
Bolton are also expected to listen to offers for Swedish striker Johan Elmander. The 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and Bolton have yet to begin discussions about a new deal. Meanwhile, Spartak Moscow and Fenerbahce are said to be showing an interest with Bolton expected to ask for around £3 million for a player who cost a record £8.5 million in 2008.
“We are carrying too many on the wage bill,” Gartside told Bloomberg on Thursday. “To be fair nine players are out of contract in the summer, within them heavy earners, and we’ll decide if we want to offer them new contracts.”
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Bolton Wanderers Report £34.5 Million Loss
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Club Now £93m In Debt
The company that owns Bolton Wanderers has reported losses of £34.5 million. The results also show that the club is now £93 million in debt.
Burnden Leisure plc reported turnover from footballing operations increased from £51.8 million to £54 million in the year to 30 June 2010.
A change in manager saw Owen Coyle arrive in place Gary Megson but that cost the Wanderers over £4 million in severance and compensation payments. The club also blamed the signings of Chung-Yong Lee, Zat Knight, Sam Ricketts, Paul Robinson, Sean Davis, Ivan Klasnic, Jack Wilshere, Stuart Holden and Vladimir Weiss while wages went up by 14 per cent from £40.9 million to £46.4 million and represented over 85 per cent of turnover.
Revenue from broadcasting and related areas increased by 3% to £38.5million while overall gate receipts increased year on year from £5.2million in 2009 to £5.4million in 2010 reflecting an increase in games played at the Reebok and additional matches coming in the FA Cup.
Income from sponsorship and advertising was boosted by the Club’s new main sponsorship agreement with 188BET.
Chairman Phil Gartside added: “The past decade has been a fantastic journey for our club. Challenges remain undoubtedly, but there is now a real buzz of excitement and optimism around the club and with our supporters.
“Since returning to the Wanderers, Owen has made significant progress and we will continue to support and assist to achieve the targets we have set out.”
“We have spent more money on players than we have in the past, in the last three or four years,” he added.
“That has left us with a large amortisation sum this year of £60-£70million, which is part of the loss.
Chief Executive Allan Duckworth said: “It has and continues to be an extremely difficult and challenging economic environment, which has impacted significantly on the business. Added to which, the football club has undergone an extended period of transition with the costs associated with that.
“We are now focused on creating stability under Owen Coyle to ensure that we continue to compete at the highest level of English football, as we have been over the last ten years.”
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Monday 8 November
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Fenerbahce Ready With £3m Elmander Bid
Turkish side Fenerbahce are set to put in a £3 million bid for Bolton striker Johan Elmander, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Swede has had mixed fortunes since signing from Toulouse in an £8.5 million deal in the summer of 2008 but is in his best run of form since arriving at the Reebok. The 29-year-old has yet to enter into contract negotiations with the Wanderers despite the fact that his current deal expires at the end of the season and manager Owen Coyle recently hinted that Elmander would have to take a pay cut in a new deal.
Fenerbahce had a three-man scouting team in the stands at Bolton’s 4-2 win over Spurs at the Reebok on Saturday. Elmander failed to get on the score sheet; all his five goals this season have come away from home but Coyle could be tempted to sell if the price is right and if he has a replacement lined up.
Russian side Spartak Moscow are also said to be interested along with two Premier League sides.
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Bolton Striker Klasnic Questioned Over Rape
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Klasnic Bailed After Rape Allegation
Bolton Wanderers striker Ivan Klasnic has been questioned by police in connection with the alleged rape of a teenage girl.
Police were called to an apartment in the centre of Manchester in the early hours of Monday morning, where a 17-year-old made an allegation of sexual assault, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said.
Croatian striker Klasnic, 30, was held for questioning and has been released on police bail until 1 November pending further enquiries. It is believed the striker was not at the address at the time the call was made but was arrested later.
Klasnic was signed from French club Nantes in August after a successful loan spell at the Reebok last season.
He was on loan from French club Nantes last season but the French side did not renew his contract over the summer. He has scored twice in four games this season but was sent off after scoring the winning goal against Stoke on 16 October.
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Wigan Manager Martinez Accuses Muamba Of Recklessness
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Wigan’s McCarthy Out For Up To Ten Weeks
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has accused Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba of recklessness after James McCarthy was ruled out of action for up to 10 weeks.
McCarthy was stretchered off with an ankle injury half an hour into Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the two sides after going in to a tackle with Muamba.
“It was an unnecessary challenge, it was not malicious but it was reckless,” said Martinez.
“One of the most creative young players in the League is going to be out for up to 10 weeks. That is a football crime.”
Martinez admitted that McCarthy’s injury wasn’t as bad as he first feared
“It is obviously ligament damage in the right ankle,” he added.
“When it is swollen it is sometimes difficult to assess but there is no fracture, we hope.”
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Bolton News: Elmander May Have To Take Pay Cut To Stay With Wanderers
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Bolton To Offer Reduced Terms As Coyle Keeps His Eye On The Finances
Bolton Wanderers could be ready to offer Swedish striker Johan Elmander a new contract to keep him at the club, but the 29-year-old Swede may have to take a wage cut to stay at the Reebok Stadium.
The club’s record signing is out of contract at the end of the season free to talk to other clubs from January but despite Elmander being in his best scoring form since arriving at Bolton in 2008 boss Owen Coyle is wary of the financial constraints he is operating under.
“Ultimately, I have to be very respectful of the club, in the manner that I’m not the guy who has to deal with the current losses and the money at that level,” he said on Thursday. “I’ll always try and help out on the business side of things but at the same time, I want the best side available to me to put on the park and give the fans something to shout about.
“I want to keep him at the football club, I think Johan wants to stay, and I’m pretty sure very soon we’ll sit down and have a chat about it.
“He’s showing by the way he goes about it and the things he says that he loves being at the football club.
“The best two factors involved in it are: one, the manager would like him to stay, and two, that the player wants to stay. Ultimately it’s between us to have that chat over the next couple of weeks.”
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News: Samuel Ponders Move
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Jlloyd Samuel Could Move Abroad
Bolton defender Jlloyd Samuel says he may consider a move abroad to re-ignite his career.
The 29-year-old central defender is out for three months having undergone surgery after rupturing a thigh muscle but with less than a year to go on his contract Samuel has yet to be contacted by the club about a new deal and admits his future could lie away from the Reebok Stadium.
“I just want to get fit and playing really,” he said. “I’m hoping to be back by January and then I will definitely look at my contract situation.
“It might be the case that I have to go elsewhere or even abroad to get my career going again.”
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Bolton Wanderers Transfer News and Rumours, Tuesday 19 October
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Inter Linked With Move for Cahill
Inter Milan are being linked with a move for Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
The 24-year-old, who made his England debut when he came on as a substitute against Switzerland, was linked with a £14 million move to Arsenal during the summer; now Italian giants Inter Milan are said by TalkSport to be ready with a £10 million bid in January. Inter boss Rafa Benitez was a fan of Cahill when he was manager of Liverpool.
Cahill’s England appearance has triggered a release clause in his contract of £15 million – some £5 million more than Inter are ready to bid.
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Bolton Wanderers News: Coyle Ready To Sit Down With Elmander
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Coyle Ready To Talk About New Elmander Contract
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to sit down and talk with striker Johan Elmander about a new contract.
The Swede scored his fourth goal in seven Premier League games in the 1-1 draw with West Brom on Saturday and has already scored more than he managed last season. Elmander is available on a free transfer at the end of the season but Coyle has told him that they will be sitting down to talk about a new deal before too long.
“We’ll sit down with him and he knows that,” said Coyle. “I can’t say it’ll be today or tomorrow but he knows I want him at the football club.
“He’s got everything in his locker to be a top player – the very best.
“He’s got great mental strength because he’s been panned from pillar to post because he came in with a big transfer fee but I’ve shown the belief I’ve had in him by playing him week in, week out.
“He knows how much I think of him and I’m flattered that he’s said is how much he enjoys working with me.”
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