BOLTON Wanderers will not be rushed into selling Alan Thompson.

Interest is hotting up in the first big transfer auction of the summer but they are staying cool at the Reebok Stadium, content to wait and weigh up the options before getting down to serious transfer talks.

Leeds have tabled a bid of £3.5 million, Everton have made a firm inquiry and Aston Villa will make their move early next week. Leicester have also asked to be kept informed of developments.

But Wanderers, who have put a £5 million price on Thompson's head, are in no hurry ... much to the irritation of Elland Road chiefs, who believe they are at the front of the queue since they offer Thompson his two main requirements - a place in Europe next season and the chance to commute from his family home in Bolton.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale showed a hint of impatience when he said: "We have put in a written offer and, to the best of my knowledge, we are the only ones that have done so. But we have heard nothing back from the club or the player.

"It doesn't meet their valuation, but, in our opinion, it meets ours and they are very clear that we are interested. I wouldn't expect them to talk to anybody else without talking to us again.

"We are led to believe he is interested in playing for a club that's playing in Europe and I would like to think we are a big enough club to attract someone like Alan Thompson.

"My message to them is: We have made an offer, if we are the only ones who have done so, let's sit down and talk.

"If they require some sort of flexibility, lets talk about that and see where we get to."

Colin Todd responded coolly: "The Leeds bid is not the only one we have had.

"It was turned down because it was not good enough. If it had been acceptable, we would have given them permission to speak to the player.

"No club will speak to Alan Thompson until a bid is accepted."

Wanderers' hand could eventually be forced by a clause in Thompson's contract which will allow him to speak to any club offering £3.2 million - if he is still with the club on September 1.

But, for the meantime, they are sitting tight and waiting for the bids to roll in.

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