ABDOULAYE Meite has put his duty to his country before his ambition to play in the Premiership.

Marseille's Ivory Coast international defender says he has rejected offers from Wanderers and Newcastle United because he is determined to play in the African Nations Cup, which starts next week, to enhance his prospects of playing in this summer's World Cup.

Meite claims the offers he received were conditional on him withdrawing from the Egypt event.

"I was ready to sign for Bolton, but they said that to sign me I had to miss the African Cup of Nations, and so did Newcastle," he said.

"I won't sign for a club who will jeopardise my ambition to play for my country. I love my country and the national team is full of quality players. If I miss the ACN, the coach might not call me up for the World Cup."

Meite, who is struggling to get games at Marseille, has been on Wanderers wanted list for more than a year, but Sam Allardyce has finally been forced to admit defeat.

"We would have loved Meite to come and join us," he said. "But, if you are going to spend a lot of money in the transfer window and then be without a player for five to six weeks, due to international commitments, it is bad business.

"It came down to money in the end, both the fee and wages, but that (the African Nations Cup) was a factor."

Allardyce has also given up hope of signing Feyenoords Japanese international midfielder, Shinji Ono.

He spoke to the players representatives this week and was hoping to strike a deal with the Dutch club, who had previously accepted a cash bid from Onos old club, Onowura Reds.

"Nothing has come to fruition," he said, "so it seems likely he will go back to Japan to rekindle his career."

Allardyce also revealed that two other deals he was working on this week had broken down and admitted he was becoming increasingly frustrated in his efforts to add to his squad in the transfer window.