By Mark Heys
July 17 2006

Sam Allardyce beleives that he and other managers are being priced out of the English market as they aim to bolster their squads over the summer. Allardyce was speaking after completing the capture of Ivory Coast international Abdoulaye Meite from Olympique Marseille for just over a fee in the region of £1 million.

The Bolton manager feels clubs can get better value for money by shopping overseas as British clubs are being a little bit too unrealistic in their valuations of certain players.

"Looking at the prices in The Premiership now for players with little Premiership experience in the central defensive positions,

"Robert Huth, for instance, hasn't really played that much for Chelsea - £5 million, Joleon Lescott to Everton from Wolves - £4.5 to £5 million."

"What we've got here is a player who has been in European football every season with Marseille and at the top of the French league every season. He is also only 25, so we've got a real bargain on our hands." said Allardyce to Sky Sports yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bolton have been linked with moves for Atletico Madrid full back Juan Velasco and are said to have renewed their interest in the promising young Argentine player Leandro Gioda.