Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce says his attempt to sign Brazil's World Cup winner Rivaldo is now "dead in the water".

Allardyce has not given up all hope of still pulling off a deal but has grown increasingly frustrated waiting for a decision from the 32-year-old player over a contract offer.

The former AC Milan and Barcelona forward, a free agent, returned home to Brazil after talks with the English premier league club last month.

"We've had no word from him and I think it's dead in the water at the moment," Allardyce told the premier league club's website on Friday.

"It's not 100 percent finished but looks very, very doubtful from our point of view."

Rivaldo quit Cruzeiro at the end of February after less than two months at the Brazilian club when coach Vanderley Luxemburgo, who signed him, was sacked. He can sign for Bolton immediately if terms are agreed.

Scottish champions Celtic have also expressed an interest in signing a player whose star has been on the wane since he left Barcelona in June, 2002.

"Like anything else we'd prefer to keep these things quiet -- we have been linked with so many players," O'Neill told the BBC.

"But the truth is when somebody like Rivaldo becomes available you have got to be interested."