Coyle keen to keep Jaaskelainen

30 May 2012 11:17

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is eager to retain the services of Jussi Jaaskelainen, but he admits the long-serving goalkeeper may not want to stay at the Reebok Stadium if he is second choice.

Wanderers have made the 37-year-old Finn a final offer of a new two-year contract and Coyle would like an answer soon. Jaaskelainen, who has been at the club for 15 years, fell behind Adam Bogdan in the pecking order last season and seems set to be behind him when the club kick-off in the npower Championship in August.

"I want to make it clear that I want him to stay," Coyle told the Bolton News.

"I had a very good chat with him last week and he knows my feelings on the matter.

"We know we have Adam, and that would give us two top keepers, but we want that strength in depth.

"We know how good a goalkeeper Jussi is, the fantastic service he's put in for Bolton over a number of years, and we have put an offer to him that we think is a good one.

"Jussi was disappointed when he lost his spot, and he was unlucky that it happened because of an injury but he knows how far Adam has come along.

"It's up to him now whether he wants to stay and challenge him, or move on."

Source: PA