Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is keen to secure Okocha's services

Sam Allardyce, the manager of English Premiership Bolton Wanderers, has said he will resist any big-money bids for Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha when the transfer window opens in January.

Instead, the Bolton manager has indicated he is ready to offer the gifted midfielder, whose contract expires at the end of the season, a new deal.

Okocha's inspirational performances and creativity aside, Allardyce is keen to retain the Nigerian's services since any potential transfer cash would only be used to service the club's debts.

"No amount of money will encourage me to sell him, because I can't use it," the Bolton boss explained.

"We've got to pay the debt off."

"I would feel more encouraged to give him a new contract than sell him."

Okocha is due to join the Super Eagles squad on 18 December ahead of the 2004 Nations Cup finals in Tunisia, and Allardyce fully expects the 30-year-old to still be a Bolton player when he returns.

And the burly Bolton manager hinted that the former Paris Saint Germain and Fenerbahce player would be best advised to stay where he is rather than taking on a greater challenge at a larger club.

"Sometimes being somewhere bigger than here isn't always the best," Allardyce said.

"You have to be careful where you go to, because we provide such an excellent service for our players."

Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer in July 2002, and has scored seven goals in 45 league appearances.