Wanderers' first new recruit of the summer could signal the end for one of last season's survival heroes writes Neil Bonnar

Greek international Stylianos Giannakopoulos will fill the attacking right-sided berth next season, severely reducing the chances of Bernard Mendy rejoining Wanderers.

Giannakopoulos signed a three-year deal on Wednesday after making it clear to Olympiakos weeks ago that he intended to leave the Greek league for the Premiership.

The 28-year-old is a prolific goalscorer from midfield with 13 goals in 28 league games for his club with which he has won the league for the last six years.

He has extensive experience of Champions League football, playing at Old Trafford in the competition this season, and it is a measure of his commitment to playing for Wanderers that he is prepared to give up playing in Europe's premier club competition to try his hand in the Premiership.

Mendy, however, looks unlikely to be back at the Reebok next season.

Occupying the same position as Giannakopoulos, Wanderers are not likely to spend big on two attacking right sided midfielders when they need to recruit a glut of players in other positions during the summer.

Allardyce wants a minimum of eight players on new contracts and has already got two in re-signing Anthony Barness and Giannakopoulos.

Two centre halves, two midfielders and two strikers are still needed and with a large portion of the summer budget evidently needed for a quality goalscorer the need to recruit Mendy has receded.

Giannakopoulos twice rejected much improved contracts with Olympiakos and he wasted no time putting pen to paper, having just lifted his sixth successive title with a 5-1 away victory over Xanthi on Sunday to beat rivals Panathinaikos on goal difference on Sunday.

He received more good news on Thursday when he was selected for Greece's 22-man squad for the Euro 2004 qualifiers next month against Spain in Zaragoza on June 7 and Ukraine in Athens four days later.

He said Wanderers' growing reputation was a major reason for him agreeing to come.

He said: "Bolton is gradually building itself a strong reputation in European football and it will be refreshing to be a part of their renaissance.

"I have heard a great deal about their performances, particularly towards the end of the season, and it will be exciting playing alongside the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff.

"I've always wanted to play in the Premier League and when Bolton Wanderers showed an interest in me I was very interested. I am looking forward to playing alongside some quality players and helping Bolton become an established team in the top flight."

Allardyce commented: "Stylianos is a highly-rated player in his homeland and is looking forward to playing in the Premiership with us. I have been tracking his career for quite some time and I am confident that he will add a new dimension to our squad.

"His main attribute is his ability to make late dynamic runs into the penalty area and his flair to shoot accurately from range. He is an attacking midfielder who knows how to score goals.

"Last season, he scored 13 goals. He has done it at the highest level in Europe in the Champions League and he is relishing the prospect of playing alongside our top line players in the Premiership."

His contract with Olympiakos ends on June 30 and will join Wanderers the following day.