SAM Allardyce could be about to launch an audacious bid to bring 'Le Sulk' back to the Premiership.
The Bolton boss wants three quality players to improve his squad and a maximum of six new faces before the 2006-07 campaign kicks-off in August.
And having been rebuffed in his attempt to sign Everton new boy Andy Johnson, Allardyce now appears keen on moody Frenchman Nicolas Anelka.
It won't have escaped his attention either that Jason Roberts' career with Wigan Athletic appears to be over after a bust-up over his wage demands.
Certainly, Big Sam wouldn't have to cough up the é13m Kevin Keegan forked out to bring Anelka to Eastlands.
In fact, he could spend less than he was prepared to pay Crystal Palace for Johnson's services.
Ambitions
"The challenge is to find another Andy Johnson within our budget," he says.
Anelka, still only 27, moved to Turkish side Fenerbache after leaving the Blues.
Never known to overstay his welcome, Anelka, who has also played for Paris St Germain and Real Madrid, has made no secret of a desire to return to the Premiership.
Allardyce would revel in dealing with the player's hard-to-handle reputation providing he can persuade Anelka that Bolton are a big club with even bigger ambitions.
"We have to change the perception that we are no longer a small club," said Allardyce, who has been given unprecedented funds to try and turn Wanderers into Champions League challengers.
Persuasion
"Once we get the players through the door, we can normally persuade them to sign because of the way we do things behind the scenes.
"However it is very difficult to get to that stage in any transfer negotiation," admits Allardyce.
"The Club want to move forward and the transfer budget is higher than normal, which is a great commitment from the club and Eddie Davies the owner.
"I have a budget to spend and if it means bringing in three quality players then that's what I'll try to do.
"I will spread the cost to bring the best quality we need. Six players would be the optimum number, but that might just be beyond us."
Allardyce had been linked with Guinea defender Daouda Jabi, who played for French club Ajaccio, last season.
And he's still hoping Ivan Campo will agree new personal terms to keep the Spaniard at the Reebok.
Despite Allardyce's extra cash, he isn't prepared to offer `silly' money on a 32-year-old.
Would you like to see Anelka at the Reebok? Have your say.
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I think seing anelka in a bolton shirt would be a huge risk as we all know what he is capable both good and bad ways. I think he will be a good goalscorer which is what bolton have perhaps lacked over the past few years, but he will provide plenty of ammunition up front for them. We all know that perhaps the downside of his game is his attitude but maybe 'big sam' can change him as he has done with so many others.
Sam - Don't do it. You failed with Diouf, please don't go throwing good money after bad. Every single Manager he has played under has had problems - please, stay well clear.
Anelka went from PSG to City, not from Liverpool
i wisht to see him with bolton couse he is one of beste striker and maybe under SAM hi will be the best goalscorer so bring him SAM and maybe wit h him bolton with be a concurent for champins league
Dont do it Sam !
How many chances does this prima donna deserve?
Never want to see his like at any EPL side.
Let him wallow in his own self importance somewhere else.
He has shown time and time again that he will be off as sooon as things dont go the way he wants them too.
Sadly this is becoming indicative of many "professional" footballers - there is much more to being a good pro than just footballing ability, which is something a lot of this generation of footballers just dont seem able to grasp.
Too much money far too soon in a young pros life will invariably lead to his kind of behaviour.
The one thing in Anelka's favour is that he does actually have some talent - there are many players around
acting in the same way as him who have very little talent but think they are the next big thing.
A crash course in reality should be compulsory for many of these overpaid overhyped nobodys.
Keep the faith !!
OK, I??<sup>TM</sup>m a City supporter and should not be on the Bolton forum but the news of Anelka back in the prem brought me here.
First of all, the boy is class, world class if you ask me. I would love to get him back at City, had we not had Keegan but a manager who could actually read the game (like Big Sam)we would have seen even more of him. And he didn??<sup>TM</sup>t sulk when he played for City, he kept his head down and worked hard in (nearly) every game. The only reason he was sold is our lack of money and the fact that he wanted to play European football, and I guess the ??oeprogress??? we made under his time with us didn??<sup>TM</sup>t exactly make him think Champions League is around the corner??? The story would be different with Bolton as you were in Europe this year (and still managed to put together a decent run in the prem, unlike M??<sup>TM</sup>boro) and probably will qualify for it again come the end of next season.
He is proven goal scorer in the prem, unlike Diouf who didn??<sup>TM</sup>t score many goals for Liverpool either. If you can get him ??" Go for it!
But thats just the opinion of Blue.
When he wants to play he can be World Class, and i dont use that accolade lightly. But when, not if, things turn sour you will be left with an expensive liability, and one that will make you Bolton fans blood boil as he stands on the half way line, hands on hips, with a work rate of zero.
Would I like to see "Le Sulk" at the the Reebok? In a word: "No!"
I'm glad that I saw another City supporter here the other day so I'm not alone. The thing about Anelka is that the reason why he didn't score at Manchester was because of KK's tactics and that he probably got bored of not showing his full abilities. Just think a few years back, wouldn't you as an opponent be a bit worried if you saw Fowler-Anelka striking partnership coming up against you? Fowler was with national team as well at the time. Anelka's got pace, he can also pass and if he wants to score from close range or from 50 yards he will eventually deliver. I'm not saying that it is not up to the player as well to make an effort, don't get me wrong. However, in my opinion KK's tactics were so frustrating to watch at times that I'm not surprised why he left the club. City had quick players up front plus on the flanks to put the pressure in the opponents half but this ability was never fully used if you ask me. Keegan's style was just too passive, defensive and risk-free while Bolton's current team and potential is just simply scary and they are cabable of winning anyone. So to put it in short: If Anelka moves to Bolton I'd say we others may have a marking problem when facing Bolton. Blast.
I Think bringing in a striker of anelka's quality is a wicked move for bolton, to be perfectly honest we need a proven goalscorer, which i may add in this respect anelka has never dissapointed. Bolton rely to heavily on our midfield to grab the goals, and kevin davies will never score more than 5 in a season realistically. As for Diouf, i see in him a good playmaker forward, although he didnt score that many times this season (because he was benched half the time). Anyway if anyone can get rid of this "Le Sulk" attitude its going to be Big Sam, even dioufy has pretty much sorted his attitude out since SAm gave him a rollicking, I'd like to see Anelka trying to act the big man in front of Big Sam lol.