Allardyce still seething over transfer snub

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce believes Yossi Benayoun’s decision to snub the UEFA Cup qualifiers in favour of a transfer to West Ham was motivated by finance rather than football.

The Israel international completed his move to the Hammers earlier in the week after Bolton had looked almost certain to sign the 25-year-old playmaker and Allardyce believes Benayoun has made a mistake in joining the newly-promoted Londoners.

“I think he went for the money,” said Allardyce of the £2.5m (€3.6m) transfer from Racing Santander.

“The answer is if he didn’t want to come to a club like ours, which is a great club, then he went to West Ham for more money.

“We are an established Premier League club now and we have achieved a UEFA Cup spot. So I think it was very stupid, a big mistake. He changed his mind, that’s his decision and good luck to him.”

Another player who has slipped through the Bolton net as Allardyce has struggled so far this summer to add to his squad is Mexican international striker Jared Borgetti, who the manager was chasing after his impressive performances during last month’s Confederations Cup in Germany.

While Bolton were on the trail of the 31-year-old’s signature, Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, the reigning Asian champions, announced they had completed a deal to sign the powerful striker, further adding to Allardyce’s frustration.

“We couldn’t compete with them, so if he’s gone there good luck to him,” said Allardyce. “But he’s also gone there for the money not for the football so if that’s the case it’s just as well we didn’t get him.”