By Mark Heys
March 8 2006

Bolton Wanderers have agreed a pre-contractual deal with Maccabi Haifa's 30-year old midfielder Idan Tal, who was once on the books of Everton. The experienced international star will move to the Reebok Stadium on a three year deal in the summer once his current contract with the Israeli champions has come to an end.

Sam Allardyce was delighted to have struck a deal with the player whom he has been monitoring since the start of last season. The Bolton boss hopes that his potential new recruit can make a similar impact on English football to that of West Ham's Yossi Benayoun and current Trotters favourite Tal Ben-Haim.

"I am hopeful that a pre-contract deal will be concluded later this week. Idan will add extra attacking flair to a midfield that already contains quality.

"He reminds me of West Ham's Yossi Benayoun, and if he makes a similar impact on the Premier League as Benayoun and our own Tal Ben Haim have then we will have some player at our disposal. We are just awaiting the medical results and hopefully he will sign."

IDAN TAL FACTFILE

BORN: 13/09/1975 in Petah Tikva, Israel
POSITION: Central midfielder
INTERNATIONAL CAPS: Israel 46 games, 5 goals
FORMER CLUBS

1994-1996 Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel) 0 appearances, 0 goals
1996-1998 Maccabi Petah Tikva (Israel) 71 appearances, 10 goals
1998-1999 Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) 14 apperances, 2 goals
1999-2000 Merida (Spain) 36 apperances, 5 goals
2000 Maccabi Petah Tikva (Israel) 7 appearances, 1 goal
2000-2002 Everton 29 appearances, 2 goals
2002 Rayo Vallecano (Spain) 6 appearances, 0 goals
2002-2006 Maccabi Haifa (Israel) 77 appearances, 24 goals (up to last summer)