SUMMER TARGET: Sam Allardyce doesn't look like giving up on landing Sukur and could submit a bid for

Bolton manager keen to sign Rovers striker

BOLTON boss Sam Allardyce is ready to launch a fresh raid for Hakan Sukur in the summer if Wanderers can win their battle to beat the drop.

Allardyce is a big admirer of the Turkish international and tried to sign him earlier in the season before he opted for a move to Ewood instead.

However, the Wanderers chief still hasn't given up on a deal altogether and he's now thought to be planning a fresh approach if his side can hang onto their Premiership status and Sukur fails to settle at Rovers.

So far, the former Inter Milan star has made just one appearance for Blackburn since recovering from a double hernia operation and a broken leg.

But Rovers boss Graeme Souness remains confident the 31-year-old will prove a big hit with fans between now and the end of the season and, depending on how he performs over the next nine games, he may decide to offer him a permanent deal in the summer.

Souness, who first worked with the player when he managed Turkish giants Galatasaray, fought hard to bring him to England last December amidst strong competition from elsewhere.

But Allardyce is watching the situation closely from the wings and may well step in if Rovers decide not to extend Sukur's stay in East Lancashire beyond the end of the season, when his current deal is due to run out.

The Wanderers boss said: "I wanted to sign Hakan in September but he was too expensive.

"I admire his quality and I liked the look of him when he played in a charity game at Bolton last week."

Allardyce has managed to land top foreign stars like Youri Djorkaeff and Ivan Campo in the past by offering lucrative one-year contracts.

But any hopes of signing Sukur would hinge on Wanderers staying in the top-flight and their survival hopes suffered another blow at the weekend when they lost 2-0 at Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Rovers decided against risking Sukur in Friday night's reserve game against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Manager Alan Murray had hoped to give the Turk some much-needed match action as he looks to step up his comeback from injury.

But a slight back injury sustained in a charity match for the Kanu Heart Foundation earlier in the week meant he was not risked.

He is, however, in contention for a place against Arsenal this weekend when the current Premiership champions visit Ewood.

And Craig Short is also on course for a return against the Gunners after recovering from a thigh injury.

The veteran defender was hoping to return to training today following a week of intensive treatment at Brockhall, which meant he missed out on the first team's trip to Marbella.

Elsewhere, Rovers striker Matt Jansen missed Coventry's game with Wimbledon on Saturday due to illness.

Jansen is currently on loan at Highfield Road but he was left out of the Sky Blues' squad at the weekend after feeling the effects of a stomach bug.

The Sky Blues drew 2-2 in Jansen's absence and their faint hopes of reaching the First Division play-offs are now fading fast.

Bolton manager keen to sign Rovers striker

SUMMER TARGET: Sam Allardyce doesn't look like giving up on landing Hakan Sukur and could submit a bid at the end of season