Jaaskelainen rejects contract offer

Jussi Jaaskelainen’s agent today confirmed that the Bolton goalkeeper has rejected the club’s first offer of a new contract.

Talks with the 29-year-old Finland international are not expected to resume until the end of the season.

Jaaskelainen’s representative Peter Harrison told the Press Association: “Jussi is very happy at Bolton but we are looking for the kind of deal that a goalkeeper of his class would expect.

“He is one of the top three goalkeepers in the Premiership in my opinion. Jussi has been over here for eight years and is very familiar with the top level. He is doing well and has made great progress at Bolton. He enjoys living in the area. But it is a short career.

“We are not holding the club to ransom or anything crazy, we are just looking for a deal that is acceptable.”

Jaaskelainen’s current deal still has two and a half years to run and manager Sam Allardyce would appear to be relaxed with the situation.

“Jussi is contracted to Bolton until 2007 under his original deal,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“It will be talked about and maybe negotiated but it is difficult at this stage of the season to discuss what the length and what the terms will be.”