SAM Allardyce can look forward to working on a Premiership budget when he carries out the necessary adjustments to his squad for a second successive season of top flight football.

Wanderers look set to hit the jackpot after all by securing their survival at the expense of Ipswich and, although he has put a hold on premature celebrations, the manager looks sure to be in a position to negotiate at the upper end of the transfer market.

He already has a deal worked out with Fredi Bobic, whose first half hat-trick paved the way for the 4-1 romp that left George Burley's Tractor Boy's staring down the barrel of the relegation gun. Talks are likely to take place at the end of the season with a view to the Borussia Dortmund striker converting his loan into a permanent arrangement.

There is now a stronger possibility than ever of Wanderers striking an agreement that would keep the French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff, who was also on target against Ipswich, when his current short-term contract expires.

And Allardyce has not ruled out a renewed bid to tempt the legendary Yugoslav international centre-back Sinisa Mihajlovic to Bolton.

A loan deal for the Lazio defender was on the cards just before last month's transfer deadline but it fell through at the last minute because the player could not get back from Brazil, where he had been playing in an international friendly, in time to complete the formalities.

But the manager suggested today that he could make a fresh move in the summer.

"If we were interested in him now it would be on a permanent arrangement," he told Wanderers' official website. "Whether we can do it is another matter but with his standing in the game and what he's achieved, he has been an outstanding centre half throughout his career and still is.

"When you get a player of his international quality, you've got to be interested.

"I won't know that until the summer months come and I'm not really looking towards next season until we find out our final destination."

He has already ruled out a move for Real Mallorca's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o explaining that while he had representatives watching the player recently any reported interest was pure 'press speculation.'

Allardyce is refusing to claim victory just yet in the battle for survival but admitted "we're nearly there" after seeing Wanderers move up to 14th in the table on 39 points, six clear of Ipswich and 10 ahead of second bottom Derby on the day that saw Leicester finally condemned to the drop.

Looking to the clash with Tottenham on Saturday week, he said: "I suppose one more point would be nice from that one because it would take us another point closer," he said, "But you never can tell. The last time Bolton Wanderers were in this position (1997-98) they got 40 points and got relegated on goal difference.

"So let's say we need more than that and try to get as many points as we can as soon as we can.

"Until we are mathematically certain, as always, whether at the top or at the bottom, we won't rest until it is done and dusted."

Bobic, who took advantage of the fortnight's break and flew home to Germany yesterday, was equally cautious. "We are not safe yet," he insisted. "We are 80 per cent there but what is 80 per cent? We must play all the games and see at the end. We need one or two more points and then we are safe."