Things appear to be going from bad to worse for Sammy Lee in the Bolton hot seat, with the news that Senegalese frontman El-Hadji Diouf wants to leave for a club in the Champions League club.
Diouf has wasted no time in turning his back on Bolton after their rotten start to the season that has seen them beaten three times and they now prop up the Premiership table as the only side yet to register a point.
Diouf claims that Tottenham, Celtic, French champions Lyon and two other clubs are interested in securing his uniques services but that Bolton's valuation is too expensive.
"I have five clubs who want me but I don't want to go for going. I want to go to somewhere where I will be happy," said Diouf today. "But Bolton want a lot of money for me. They are asking for £10million. I want to play in the Champions League or with a club that wants to be there next season."
Diouf came to England after being signed by Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier for £10m. He has made headlines for all the wrong reasons since his arrival in England and was found guilty of spitting on a Celtic fan during a Champions League match with Liverpool.
He was also investigated by the English FA for spitting on Dutchman Arjen De Zeuw when the defender played with Portsmouth.
The timing could not have been worse for Lee, who is struggling to fill the boots of 'Big Sam' Allardyce who left for Newcastle United after guiding Bolton to through their most succesful period ever.
Lee also faces the porspect of losing star striker Nicolas Anelka after admitting that he would not stand in his way if a top club were interested. That would spell disaster according to Diouf.
"If Nicolas goes I will be very disappointed. We need to keep Nico as for three years we have been doing very well. We need to go up to the next level and keep our good players as well as buying some more.
"We need to have a big squad so we need to get five good players in. We need to find big players. We have missed Tal Ben Haim but we also need midfielders and strikers," said Diouf. "This season we have the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and the Uefa Cup as well as the Premier League so we need a big squad.
"We don't have a big squad like last season and I'm not happy about that. I want to play in a good team."
After defeat to Portsmouth Lee said that his chairman Phil Gartside understood that he needed time.
"It will take time to get things right and my chairman understands that," said the former England under-21 coach. "I'm not relaxed, do I look it? I'm not easy about three defeats this season, don't think that, but I can see some progress and some development - and for me that's a big plus in these trying times."
