United "not interested in Anelka"
Monday, 04 Jun 2007 17:10
Anelka has been a hit at the Reebok this season
Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside has claimed that
Manchester United have no interest in signing star striker Nicolas Anelka.
The French international, who was the Trotters' top scorer last season with 12 goals, has been linked to a move to United as part of their summer spending spree.
And while Sir Alex Ferguson does have a shortage of strikers at Old Trafford, Gartside has claimed that he has spoken to United chief executive David Gill who denied they would be putting a call in at the Reebok Stadium to enquire about the player.
"David Gill has confirmed to me that Manchester United has no interest in Nicolas Anelka," the Bolton chairman told the club's website.
"Sammy Lee is looking to build a squad for next season and we absolutely have no interest in selling any of our better players. Nicolas, of course, is one such player."
At the end of the 2006/07 season, Anelka was quoted in the French press saying that while he was happy to be playing at Bolton, particularly as they had qualified for European football next season, he would find it hard to turn down an offer from the Premiership champions.
But while the Old Trafford outfit have hardly been thrifty this close season so far, signing three players – Nani, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves – for a combined total of an estimated £50 million, Anelka does not appear to be the next name on the shopping list.