RED tape is threatening to scupper Sam Allardyce's attempt to sign Macedonian international Artim Sakiri.

The Home Office have rejected the 28-year-old midfield player's application for a work permit because his country is too low in the international rankings.

Wanderers now have to decide whether to appeal the decision or drop their interest in a player they could buy for just £250,000.

"He easily meets the criteria of having played in 75 per cent of the recent internationals," Wanderers secretary Simon Marland explained, "but Macedonia are out of the top 70 in the world rankings.

"At the moment we are considering an appeal."

Sakiri is now back with his club, NK Gorica in Slovenia, after impressing in trials at the Reebok.

Allardyce has flatly denied any interest in Inter Milan's unsettled Turkish international striker, Hakan Sukur, who has fallen out of favour at the San Siro and is being linked with Fulham and West Ham.

Sukur's agent, who is trying to find a new club for his 30-year-old client, was reported on a European website to have have been told of Wanderers' "interest" by an Inter official.