BWFC 24

Jussi For Sale

After reports about Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen’s move to Arsenal 10 days ago it seems that there is some unfortunate truth in the rumour. Jussi could be leaving Bolton as early as January 2006, during the transfer window or maybe not until the end of the season.

Sam Allardyce confirmed that Jussi may be on the move by giving the Official BWFC website the following statement.

“It is true we have not resolved our contract negotiations with Jussi, the situation is one that looks like it might not be resolved from a legal point of view. There is a stand-off in terms of a legality of a contract that other players have signed here.

“At the moment, he doesn’t want to sign, and we don’t believe that we should give him something different to what other players have signed here.

“Jussi is a valuable asset and if he isn’t going to sign his contract, then the club may wish to cash in at some stage. That could be in January or at the end of the season if we have not resolved the situation.”

“Jussi’s agent tells me he has a club for him but that club haven’t made an offer. So can we say that there has been an illegal approach for him? Is that why he hasn’t signed?”

When news of a possible Jussi move came up earlier this month I wrote, “of all the rumours so far this is the most ridiculous.” I said this because Jussi has been such an important and popular team member since his signing three years ago.

Big Sam said recently that the transfer window opens in January that the focus will be on buying players, not selling

“We lose five players to the African Nations Cup, so we won’t be able to transfer one out,” said the Bolton manager when dismissed rumours about Jared Borgetti’s future at the club.

It looks like Sam will be making a number of changes at the club during January and the true nature of Jussi Jaaskelainen’s future will not be known until then.