Gartside confirmed that the veteran will retire should he fail to agree on fresh terms to keep him at the Reebok Stadium, a scenario which is only likely to happen should Bolton be relegated as the former Monaco player does not want to end his career in the First Division.
"We are talking to Youri. If he doesn't sign for us again, he will retire. The big thing for him is he wants to go out at the top and, being the type of guy he is, he won't step down and play in the First Division. If we were relegated I really don't think he would sign for us."
Djorkaeff has been a consistant performer for Sam Allardyce team over the past two seasons and many eyebrows where raised when the 35-year old decided to quit Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern for a move to Lancashire but it has proved to be a success story for all concerned parties.