Giannakopoulos To Stay At Bolton

By Mark Heys
July 9 2005

Stelios Giannakopoulos will see out the final year of his Bolton contract despite not accepting the new terms which have been put to him. The Greek international has been subject of recent interest from Liverpool but the Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce is keen for the player to stay at the club.

Giannakopoulos moved to Bolton on a Bosman Free Transfer from Olympiakos two years ago, and whilst initially failing to settle in England he turned things around to become one of the Trotters most consistent performers in the final third of last season.

The Euro 2004 winner shot to prominence after scoring a contender for goal of the month against Norwich City in March and this was to signal the start of a fine run in form which culminated in Bolton securing their place in the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.

Allardyce is determined to hold onto Giannakopoulos and has stated that it will be in Bolton's best interests to let him see out the remaining twelve months of a three-year deal.

"We have made Stelios a good offer and he hasn't agreed to it, but he won't be going anywhere this summer. There's no point selling him. It's better we keep him for next season."

"He came here on a Bosman, so it's not as though we will be losing anything by keeping him for another season."

Meanwhile the Wanderers are being linked with a move for Racing Santander midfielder Fernando Moran.