IBRAHIM Ba insisted on Monday that there are still issues to be settled before he signs a new contract with Wanderers.

The French midfielder wants to extend his stay at the Reebok, but says he is not yet ready to commit himself.

"I hope things can be sorted out because I would like to stay here," the former AC Milan ace said, "but there are different things we have to talk about.

"I am leaving that to my agent, who is talking with the chairman and the manager because the only thing I want to do is to play and to train. The more I play, the more I am happy."

Sam Allardyce says he expects to agree a deal with Ba before his current contract expires on Thursday and was encouraged when the player backtracked on his decision not to play in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Tranmere.

The Wanderers' boss announced Ba's withdrawal from the squad on Friday afternoon, saying he understood why he did not want to be cup-tied for fear of limiting his options should he decide to move on. But, after talks in the hours leading up to the Tranmere game, he was restored to the starting line-up.

"We resolved it so he played," the manager explained. "Verbally we've sorted it out and it should be okay now -- a new contract."

Ba said of his U-turn: "I still have a contract with Bolton and the gaffer asked me to play so I played. Just because I am talking to them about a new contract is no reason for me not to play.

"I am still at Bolton and every time the gaffer asks me to play, I will play."