Allardyce ready to make Stelios exit tough
Wednesday, 24 August 2005 10:21Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has warned Manchester City and Liverpool that he will not sell Stelios Giannakopoulos until he has found a suitable replacement.
Both Liverpool and City are believed to be keen to sign the Greek international with a fee of £2million being mentioned, however, Allardyce is determined to make the player's exit as difficult as possible.
City have made official contact with Bolton but have fallen short of the club's asking price and, although negotiations are still ongoing, they could find themselves usurped by Liverpool.
"Stelios' situation is an extremely difficult one we need to resolve one way or the other and as quickly as possible," insisted Allardyce.
"I've said that to the chairman. But as far as I'm concerned, a player of his quality is somebody that has to stay here. It was the same with Jay-Jay Okocha when he was recently linked to a club in Qatar, although Stelios' circumstances are different and a little more delicate."
"If he does end up going then I need somebody in before he goes. I don't need to be searching around the football world to find somebody after he goes. From my point of view, the likelihood is that player will not be as good as Stelios."
"He will be a makeweight and will have done little training with his previous club, so we will fall foul of that and it will weaken a squad that is already too weak at the moment."
With the transfer window closing next Wednesday, it appears that this saga will run until the last minute.
