Djorkaeff Rejects Bolton Contract Terms

Last updated : 01 July 2004 By Mark Heys
Youri Djorkaeff - still to commit to Bolton
French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff has rejected the initial contract offer which has been put to him by Bolton Wanderers Football Club.

Trotters manager Sam Allardyce confirmed that an offer of re-engagement had been put to the former Inter Milan and Monaco player but the veteran was not willing to accept the terms of the new deal as it differed from what he expected to be offered.

Allardyce insisted that he had to act in a professional manner when dealing with the 36-year old forward and says that the club will know in the next couple of days whether or not the fans favourite will extend his two-year association at the Reebok Stadium.

"I personally have a valuation of what he’s worth and that is based on my professional opinion and not based on sympathy or friendship. There is an offer on the table that we have negotiated but it wasn’t as much as he wanted and we weren’t willing to pay what he wanted." Sam told bwfc.co.uk

“It’s my professional judgement. I try not to let other things influence my decisions, like good relationships or past records. This is an extremely popular player with me and with the fans but there is a valuation Sam Allardyce has to put on a player and we will know in the next few days whether that is good enough for him.”

The new deal put to Djorkaeff by the Wanderers could be his last lucrative contract in top class football although numerous clubs in the oil rich Qatar league have been constantly linked with moves for the experienced campaigner who celebrates two decades in football this year having began his career as a junior with French club Grenoble back in 1984.