Bolton fury at 'morally wrong' Anfield

The European champions have gone public with their interest in the Greek midfielder and have held tentative talks with Bolton. But Gartside is unhappy that Liverpool, like Manchester City, have announced their interest just hours before Bolton play a Premiership match.

He fears Giannakopoulos will be unsettled by the reports, and said: "Yet again I am disappointed that on the eve of a Premiership match a fellow Premier League club have gone public with their interest - it is morally wrong.

"Liverpool have not made an offer for Stelios. I am aware that they are likely to make an offer soon but if they don't meet our valuation of over £2m then we won't be talking to them." Gartside said.

Bolton were due to play at home to Newcastle last night, whereas Manchester City's announcement of their interest came on the opening weekend of the season, on the morning of the Trotters' game against Aston Villa.

City's bid was dismissed by Bolton, who insisted they wanted more than £1m for the 31-year-old right-sided player, and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool will match Gartside's latest valuation.

The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, was cautious about the chances of completing a deal before next Wednesday's transfer deadline. Talks have taken place at management and board level so far, although it is not known whether a fee has been discussed, and judging by Gartside's reaction the talks were not strictly amicable.

"Our chief executive, Rick Parry, is talking with their chairman [Gartside]about the possibility of a deal," Benitez said.

"I also spoke to Sam Allardyce about the player last night because we need to know if he'd be available. At this moment Stelios is one possibility for us."

Benitez is also seeking at least one new defender before the end of the month, and he told the club website: "We are working hard to strengthen the squad before the deadline."

Allardyce could do without the off-field distraction caused by the speculation concerning a key midfielder such as Giannakopoulos.

The Bolton manager has made it clear that Giannakopoulos will not be leaving the Reebok Stadium unless he has first found a replacement, and with the transfer window due to close next Wednesday, time is fast running out.

"Stelios's situation is an extremely difficult one we need to resolve one way or the other and as quickly as possible," Allardyce said yesterday.

"I have said that to the chairman. But as far as I am concerned, a player of his quality is somebody that has to stay here.

"If he does end up going then I need somebody in before he goes. I don't need to be searching around the football world to find somebody after he goes.

"From my point of view, the likelihood is that player will not be as good as Stelios. He will be a makeweight and will have done little training with his previous club, so we will fall foul of that and it will weaken a squad that is already too weak at the moment."