BOLTON are poised to step up their chase for Birmingham's Senegalese midfield hardman, Aliou Cisse.

The Reebok club were making no comment today, but reports in Birmingham claimed that Wanderers have made an undisclosed bid for the 28-year-old international and that his future could be resolved this week.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, who will head off to Portugal for the European Championships this week straight from holiday, has been keen on signing Cisse since it emerged that he had no future at St Andrew s.

The move has been deadlocked as Bolton wanted to sign him on a free transfer, while Birmingham insisted on recouping some of the '1.5m they paid to bring him from Paris St Germain after the 2002 World Cup.

Cisse caught the international eye in Japan when he was a key player as Senegal reached the quarter-finals.

Birmingham want an initial '500,000 for Cisse as well as a second payment if he helps Bolton to stay in the Premiership.

Cisse fell out of favour with Brum boss Steve Bruce last season when he failed to report back in time for pre-season training.

Bolton captain Jay-Jay Okocha, a teammate of Cisse at Paris SG, has been recalled by Nigerian for their World Cup qualifier against Angola in Luanda on June 20.

Coach Christian Chukwu dropped him from the side that beat Rwanda 2-0 in their opening Group Four African zone qualifier on Saturday, saying his captain was tired after a busy season.

Okocha was at the centre of controversy after missing Nigeria's Unity Cup games at Charlton last month.

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