Bolton Wanderers are close to completing contract negotiations with goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, which have gone on for 12 months.
Boss Sam Allardyce believes the 30-year-old Finnish international, who joined the club in 1997, will commit his future to the club after being linked with a move away from the Reebok Stadium.
He said: "The deal with Jussi is very close now. I would have thought it will be done by the back end of this week or the beginning of next at the latest.
"Jussi is one of the players whose value has escalated by being here and they know it, which makes negotiations very difficult.
"We have got on with it the best we can but this has been the longest of the lot."
Boss Sam Allardyce believes the 30-year-old Finnish international, who joined the club in 1997, will commit his future to the club after being linked with a move away from the Reebok Stadium.
He said: "The deal with Jussi is very close now. I would have thought it will be done by the back end of this week or the beginning of next at the latest.
"Jussi is one of the players whose value has escalated by being here and they know it, which makes negotiations very difficult.
"We have got on with it the best we can but this has been the longest of the lot."
