By Mark Heys
January 8 2008

Celtic defender Bobo Balde could see a potential move to Bolton Wanderers scuppered if he goes on African Nations Cup duty with Guinea later on this month.

The experienced central half is beleived to be a £1 million target of Wanderers manager Gary Megson who has apparently told him to put his country second in order to complete a move to the Premier League.

Balde has been with Celtic since September 2001 and has won four Scottish League titles during his time at Parkhead, but the presence of the likes of Stephen McManus, Stephen Pressley, Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe and Gary Caldwell have limited his recent chances with the Scottish giants.

He made his first appearance for the Bhoys in a year when starring in their Boxing Day win over Dundee United at Tannadice but his future would seem to lie away from the current SPL Champions.

North East duo Middlesbrough and Sunderland are also beleived to be in the race to sign the ex-Toulouse and Cannes player but all depends on whether or not he is to forgo his international commitments.

Alternatively, Bolton have also been linked with Sheffield United's Chris Morgan as they look for someone to replace Abdoulaye Meite, who himself is also required to go to the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast.