I can handle bad-boy Anelka, insists Allardyce

SAM ALLARDYCE insists he is the man to tame Nicolas Anelka.

The Bolton boss is hoping Fenerbahce will finally relent and allow Anelka to make his Premiership return after an 18-month exile in Turkey.

Anelka has already had three stints in England, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. And, while the 27-year-old’stalent is unquestioned, there are still serious misgivings over his attitude and application.

Yet Allardyce is convinced he can head off any potential problems with the French striker. And, as he awaits a positive response from Fenerbahce, Allardyce is crossing his fingers he gets the chance.

“I want to be presented with a player who has great ability, great strengths and is top quality,” said the Bolton chief.

“If there is a side of his character that sometimes causes you concern then you have to learn about that side as much, if not more, than the good side.

“You find out why an individual behaves and reacts the way they do. If you are a good manager, and I believe I am, you believe you can deal with it before it becomes a problem. I like to prevent injuries and I like to prevent problems.

“I hope it never reaches that situation but I would like to be presented with at least the opportunity of seeing that side of Nicolas Anelka, as well as the good side. At the moment though, we do not know for definite whether he is going to join us or not.”

With Bolton keen to sign the striker and Anelka convinced he is about to commit himself to a four-year contract, the only stumbling block appears to be the unwillingness of Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim to sanction the transfer.

Reports in France suggest Bolton are willing to pay around £8m for the striker, who has also had spells with Real Madrid and Paris St Germain.

“We would like Nicolas Anelka and we are flattered he would like to join us, as he has said,” confirmed Allardyce.

“The deal has been negotiated for a considerable period of time but we can’t quite get the president of Fenerbahce to put the rubber stamp on it.”

If Anelka arrives at the Reebok accompanied by plenty of baggage, midfielder Gary Speed has been the model professional since moving to the north-west from Newcastle two years ago.

Although he is now 36, Speed retains the physical strength of a player 10 years younger and Allardyce has had no problem in offering him a two-year contract extension.

“It is great credit to Gary, and the way he has looked after himself, that he is still able to operate effectively, in the most physically demanding league in the world, at the age of 36,” said Allardyce.

“He deserves this two-year contract purely because of what he has done over his previous two years with us.”