Unsettled duo: Diouf and Anelka
Bolton manager Sammy Lee admits speculation surrounding the
futures of Nicolas Anelka and El Hadji Diouf is "a concern" and
concedes he may be powerless to keep them at the club. Diouf has
been public in his criticism of the Trotters team in the wake of
their pointless start to the Premier League season, and claims that
five clubs are keen to sign him.
Anelka is also being linked with a move away from the Reebok
Stadium in his pursuit of Champions League football, with
Manchester United understood to be monitoring the situation. With
midfielder Abdoulaye Faye attracting interest from Newcastle, Lee
faces the dismal prospect of losing three of his most important
players before the transfer window closes on August 31.
"It's a concern and it might be out of my hands at times - but at
the moment it is only speculation," said Lee. "We want to keep our
better players - but as I've said before, if people want to go then
sometimes you can't stop them."
Anelka has played for seven clubs during a nomadic career - while
Diouf left Liverpool under a cloud three years ago. Lee hinted at
the striking duo's track record when he said: "I certainly don't
want them to go - and as has been mentioned before, certain people
have had 'previous' at being at football clubs about wanting to
leave. "It's not just Bolton Wanderers - there is a trend - but
obviously we'd like to keep our best players."
Bolton host Reading on Saturday, with Lee under pressure to conjure
his first win since succeeding Sam Allardyce with two games
remaining last season.