Jussi Set For Summer Departure

Jussi To Go
By Mark Heys
November 19 2007

The end of the season will more than likely spell the end of an era at Bolton Wanderers after the agent of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen revealed that his client was on his way out of the Reebok Stadium following ten years of service after failing to agree on a new contract.

The 32-year old custodian Jaaskelainen has been at Bolton ever since former manager Colin Todd shelled out £300,000 to bring the Finnish international to England from under the noses of Norwich City in November 1997.

Jaaskelainen has since gone on to make over 300 league appearances for the Trotters and has missed just a handful of games since Wanderers returned to the Premiership in 2001.

Now his tenure with Gary Megson's strugglers is winding down after agent Peter Harrison confirmed that there are no further talks planned with his client and Bolton.

Harrison alleges to have already had contact with clubs from abroad but does not expect anything to happen until the end of the current Premier League season in May.

There are no talks planned with Bolton and various agents and clubs have been in touch with me from abroad and we will assess it in January,” Harrison told the Setanta Sport organisation

“We are very disappointed with the way talks went but we will just have to get on. I think he will be leaving at the end of the season, I don’t think he will leave midway through the season.” added Harrison.

Inter Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United are three clubs linked with Jaaskelainen but Bolton will be bitterly disappointed at having lost one of their prized assets for a second successive season following on from Tal Ben-Haim's move to Chelsea last summer.