Dispute to hold up new boy's debut

Bolton face a legal battle with Spanish side Levante before they will be able to field new signing Mustapha Riga.

The Trotters swooped to sign the 26-year-old Dutch forward on a three-year contract on Monday evening just as El Hadji Diouf departed the Reebok Stadium for Sunderland. However boss Gary Megson's hopes of getting Riga some pre-season match action could be hampered by Levante's bid for a £500,000 fee for the player.

The Spaniards, who were relegated from the Primera Liga last term, did not pay Riga for nine months and appeared to have waived any right to a transfer fee for his services this summer. But they are adamant that Wanderers pay up for the player and the matter could go before the courts before he can pull on the white shirt.