POLISH striker Grzegorz Rasiak has joined Bolton until the end of the season.
The 29-year-old netted in last Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Bury, scoring after his initial penalty and follow-up shot were saved by Jim Provett.
Rasiak had become frustrated by a lack of first team chances at St Mary’s and feared his chances of representing his country in this year’s European Championships were being compromised.
The ex Derby favourite briefly played in the Premier League with Spurs but the bulk of his time in England has been spent in the Football League. 20
He will make his debut at Reading tomorrow alongside new central defender Gary Cahill.
Track record
“Grzegorz doesn’t have a track record like Nicolas Anelka and isn’t the quality player Nicolas Anelka has been or is now,”agrees manager Gary Megson.
“We have been all around the market, trying and trying. So, now we’ve taken someone who will suit us and maybe we will suit him.
“But we know he is not a direct replacement for Nicolas Anelka.”
Bolton had been linked with old boy Eidur Gudjohnsen. “We bid £7 million for a player, it was turned down but it maybe it will be a goer in the summer,” added Megson.
Ironically, Lubomir Michalik leaves after helping Bolton secure back to back clean sheets in the league for only the second time this season.
But the arrival of Gary Cahill, impending return of Aboulaye Meite from the African Cup of Nations plus Andy O’Brien means Michalik’s first team opportunities would be limited.
The giant Slovak defender has joined Leeds, where he spent a successful loan spell last season, for an undisclosed fee.
Swede Christian Wilhelmsson won’t be returning either after completing his move to Deportivo La Coruna.
“He had a few good things going in his game,” agreed Megson. “But I looked for some other things he doesn’t have. And we have plenty of options in that position.”
Polish keeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak has also joined League Two Darlington on a free transfer.
However, Swiss international Blerim Dzemaili won’t be allowed to leave in the near future. Hertha Berlin and Fulham were keen to take the midfielder on loan but Megson says: “I can understand his frustrations because of the Euros this year. But I will always do what’s best for Bolton rather than the individuals.
“He needs to knuckle down here and show what he can do.”
Wanderers can expect a sizeable cheque after former midfielder David Norris’s move from Plymouth to Ipswich.
Norris completed a £2 million switch and under the terms of the deal that took Norris to Home Park in 2002, Bolton were due a 50 percent cut of any sell-on sum.
However, it’s understood they have come to a compromise figure with the Devon club.
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