Bolton Wanderers boss Sammy Lee won't stop Nicolas Anelka from moving to a Champions League club.
Both clubs are likely to feature in Europe's number one competition next season and therefore would be among those Lee would be willing to deal with, providing the terms were right for Bolton.
"I have to be fair to the boy," said Lee.
"He is 29 and he has told me he wants Champions League football.
"So would I, and I would like us both to achieve that here at Bolton.
"But, if one of the top four in England, or a Champions League club in another country, showed an interest in him, and he wanted to go, it would be remiss of me to stand in his way."
Anelka has only been with Bolton for a single season but has quickly become a crowd favourite, finishing top scorer with 11 goals last term.
Understandably, Lee is unequivocal in his desire for Anelka to stay, insisting: "You don't have to be a Philadelphia lawyer to work that out.
"I want people with quality and, undoubtedly, Nicolas has quality.
"I am not in the business of getting rid of our best players but I have to be fair to everybody. If the deal was fair to all parties, I would not stop him."
