No Cheap Ben Haim Sale

By Mark Heys
December 29 2006

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce will not allow defender Tal Ben-Haim to be sold on the cheap even though the young Israeli is coming to the end of his contract.

Portsmouth and Chelsea are both said to be long term admirers of the 24-year old who cost the Trotters a nominal fee when moving from Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer of 2004.

Allardyce wants the player to remain at the Reebok Stadium but knows there is a risk that the centre half could well move elsewhere. However, if that is the case then the Bolton manager will hold out for an acceptable price for one of his top defenders.

"He (Ben Haim) may spark a frenzied bidding war because he is a top talent,Although everybody thinks they can play games with us, they can't play games with me. Unless we get what we believe he is worth, we may ultimately lose out.

"You have to consider what we could lose through qualification for Europe by letting him go."

Indeed if no one matches the Wanderers valuation then Ben-Haim will be entitled to move under freedom of contract in the summer as he is now over the age of 24 and Bolton will not be entitled to any form of compensation.