OWEN Coyle says Wanderers stand a good chance of convincing Johan Elmander to stay at the Reebok, provided a Champions League club does not come calling.

With the Sweden international’s contract up in the summer, it now seems a foregone conclusion that the 12-goal top scorer will not put fans out of their misery by clarifying his future before the end of the season.

A string of clubs at home and abroad have been linked with his services but with the Whites themselves chasing Europe, Coyle seems confident the Whites will keep hold of their £8.2million record signing, unless a major name gets involved in the bidding.

“At the end of the season we will have another go at trying to make sure he stays at Bolton,” he confirmed. “But Johan is well within his rights to listen to what offers are out there. I would imagine he will have a few given the quality he has.

“I would love him to stay. I enjoy working with him.

“I think he will have some good offers. If there is a club out there in the top bracket that can offer the lure of Champions League, then Johan would crave that opportunity.

“But if there are clubs out there, in our bracket, we would have a fantastic chance of keeping Johan because he enjoys his football and has enjoyed working with us since we came in.”

Elmander endured a torrid first two seasons under Gary Megson at the Reebok, which yielded only 10 goals, before getting a new lease of life under Coyle.

The @-year-old has already surpassed his own goalscoring target for the season, despite playing on the right side of midfield since Daniel Sturridge’s arrival on loan in January.

And while his manager accepts Elmander is longing to play up front once again, he paid tribute to the former Toulouse striker’s selfless attitude since he took over 15 months ago and believes the change of position could actually help his game.

“Whatever went before, went before but if you look at Johan now, as opposed to when I came in, then it’s fair to say he looks a completely different player,” he said.

“His body language; everything about him looks completely different and so I think he has enjoyed his last year or so.

“Johan wants to play through the middle, and that’s the same with all strikers. But equally he knows there is a lot to be said about freshening you game up by playing in different positions.

“It gives you a different take on how the game is played and he is involved.

“He finished the game at Birmingham as right midfield but he has played there before at Toulouse.

“He has that football intelligence. If I asked Johan to play centre half, he would play centre half.

“He is desperate to do well for his team mates and that’s the type of player I enjoy working with.

“He does that and he does it with real style.”