Sam Hopes For Triple Deal

By Mark Heys
August 12 2006

Sam Allardyce is hopeful of concluding up to three transfers by the middle of next week but he has warned that any new recruit would not be ready to make their debut against Tottenham next weekend.

The manager was speaking to the press after seeing his Bolton side lose their sixth and final game of the pre-season to last year's Dutch runners-up AZ Alkmaar in a game which he had to rely on a number of Academy players including the young American Johann Smith.

When asked about the possibility of new players arriving at the Reebok Stadium Allardyce had this to say.

"Hopefully (they will be arriving) by the middle of next week, But having said that, if we bring somebody in next week he won't be ready for Tottenham, Fulham or Charlton because that would be too early for them to be included.

Allardyce is hopeful of recruiting a player for each area of the field with only the goalkeeping department being left alone due to the club already having three quality keepers in the shape of Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ian Walker and Ali Al-Habsi.

"If we could improve on the core of the team: one up front, one in the middle and one at the back, I think that would be enough. Our problem is that we've got to deal with the players that are injured

French forward Nicolas Anelka is once again being hotly tipped to move back to English football with Bolton and Preston North End's highly rated front man David Nugent has also been mentioned as a possible target of the Trotters boss.