JORDI Cruyff, the former Manchester United star, is poised to join the Bolton squad when they report for a pre-season training camp at the Italian mountain resort of Bormio this week.

But reports that another United man, Nicky Butt, is heading for the Reebok are well off the mark as there is no way Bolton could afford his transfer fee, which is reported to be in the region of '6m.

Cruyff, the 29-year-old Dutch midfielder, is available on a free transfer after being released by Spanish club Espanyol and looks certain to take the chance to join Wanderers on trial during an intense week-long training break.

The former Dutch international would welcome the chance to return to the Premiership - he left Old Trafford to join Alaves in 2000 after having had a spell on loan with Celta Vigo.

Amsterdam-born Cruyff spent four seasons with the Reds after joining at the end of Euro 96 before moving on to Alaves where he helped them reach the UEFA Cup final in which they lost to Liverpool in 2001.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce returned to his desk today after holiday and is gleaning the market for possible free transfer and Bosman signings like Cruyff.

Experience

He will also interest the Reebok chief because his Premiership experience means he won't need the bedding in period required by most foreign imports.

Allardyce is bitterly disappointed that only striker Michael Bridges has been signed so far as he had hoped to have most of his squad in place by the time players reported back for training.

He used the training camp last season to take a look at French midfielder Ibrahim Ba, who was signed subsequently from AC Milan on a free.

Allardyce will want to check out the situation with Everton defender David Unsworth whose expected move to the Reebok could be in doubt.

Also in his pending tray is the position of 31-year-old out-of-contract defender Emerson Thome. The Brazilian has rejected a new deal and has been linked with Manchester City.

But 29-year-old United and England man Butt will not be in Allardyce's thoughts, not just because of the transfer fee for a player with two years left on his Old Trafford contract but also because of his wages.

Butt has been unhappy at being on the fringe of the United side and was close to a move to Birmingham during the transfer window last January.

He stayed - for the time being - but is likely to be reconsidering his situation as he recovers from a medial knee ligament injury following Euro 2004.

Birmingham are out of the picture following their signing of Muzzy Izzet from Leicester but, even if Bolton had the cash, they could expect hot competition from Everton, Middlesbrough, Spurs and Newcastle if Butt did decide to move on. United are unlikely to stand in the way if he wants a change of scenery.

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