Wanderers has issued a "hands off" warning to Premiership suitors hoping to snatch Michael Ricketts from the Reebok.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside insists the 15-goal top scorer - currently enjoying his first taste of international duty - is not for sale and has rubbished suggestions that he will be allowed to leave the club if Wanderers are relegated,

"As far as I'm concerned they (Spurs) aren't going to make a bid at all," the Wanderers chief said.

"Michael Ricketts is a Bolton player and will be next year. He's not for sale and the club don't need to sell any players. He has recently signed a five-year contract with the club, the second new contract he has signed this season.

"We've had no contact from any club about Michael, and if we had we'd certainly tell them that he's not for sale. "

Mr Gartside was responding to rumours circulating in London and a report in yesterday's London Evening Standard claiming that Spurs are heading a queue of clubs interested in signing England's newest striker.

The report refers to Ricketts as "the £10 million-rated forward who has been the sensation of the Premiership season" and says Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle - impressed when the Wanderers' ace scored a memorable goal in the 3-2 league defeat at White Hart Lane in December - is monitoring the situation closely as he looks for a replacement for the 35-year-old Les Ferdinand.

Meanwhile, Ricketts is tipped to make his England debut in Amsterdam now that Michael Owen has dropped out with injury - possibly in the starting line-up but certainly at some stage of the friendly.