ENGLAND World Cup star Owen Hargreaves has revealed that family ties may eventually lead him to join Bolton Wanderers.

Hargreaves, the 21-year-old who has already won the Champions League with Bayern Munich, was England's best player in the 1-1 draw with South Korea yesterday.

Although he was brought up in Canada, and has always played professional football in Germany, his father Colin is orginally from Bolton, and played youth football for Wanderers.

Colin, and wife Margaret, emigrated to North America just months before Owen was born, but have brought him up with a strong sense of pride in his roots.

For that reason Owen chose to play international football for England rather than Germany or Canada, and if Colin has his way, Hargreaves Jnr will one day step out in a white shirt at the Reebok.

Owen says: "I'd love to play in England in the future. The Premiership is getting stronger and stronger, and my dad is bound to make sure that I talk to Bolton Wanderers first.

"He would love me to play for Bolton."

The midfielder has attracted interest from top Premiership sides. He has been linked with a big money move to Leeds, and admits that Arsenal have already looked at him.

Hargreaves revealed: "I have heard that Arsenal are interested. I know that Arsene Wenger watched one of our games in Germany. My current contract runs for two more seasons, and I am happy at Bayern. But we'll see how things go in the World Cup.

"Eventually I'll find my way to England."

Premiership clubs, however, face stiff competition from Bayern President Franz Beckenbauer who said: "Owen will be staying at Munich for quite a while."

Are you a member of the footballer's family? E-mail Chris Sudlow, Internet Editor, on csudlow@boltoneveningnews.co.uk or Contact the Sportsdesk on Bolton 53768