Summer 2021 Transfer Thread.

[The_Gun]

Wells must be on three or four times what we would be able to offer, so unless Brizzle wanted to heavily subsidise that would seem unrealistic.

[TonyDomingos]

Who the flip is Nakhi Wells?! Tunbridge's brother?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I've loaned in this question from the Wigan match thread...

Has anyone heard any murmurings, that we're still looking to strengthen the squad? I know there's plenty of views about how we might make "space" in the current roster, but I'm a bit short on mentions from IE, that we're still looking to strengthen.

Iles had something in the last week. Along the lines of "if the right player became available, from our shortlist".

More or less the same thing this morning.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... -deadline/

Sounds like we had a target list of young loanees who – as U21s and/or borrowed from clubs with Category One youth academies – wouldn't affect the squad number limit anyway. They weren't available earlier in summer but we're hitting the phones and if an Ole or a Jurgen would be happy for a lad to go out, we'd be happy to take them.

We made list upon list during the pre-season, actually from the end of last season. Myself and Chris (Markham) spent hours compiling it and the list is still there. If players who were not available in the summer suddenly become so, especially for a category one loan, then we have a great list of talent we think could make a big difference to us. Those conversations are taking place all the time and we have to see how it develops.

In the same story, Evatt seems to be shying away from rushing into transfers "blind":

I don’t like working in emergencies. When we sign someone I need to know the right due diligence has been done and it is the right player at the right price for this football club. If one becomes available then there could well be movement, but we are not going to be panicked or rushed into doing something for the sake of it. It is not how we do business.

That to me says we won't suddenly sign anyone we don't know. A loan's not so bad but I doubt we'd get a permanent transfer on spec. I also wonder whether we won't commit to a permanent deal while we still have unwanted players on the payroll.

[LeverEnd]

Wilshere and Sturridge unlikely then. Damn.

[BWFC_Insane]

Personally I will be surprised if we don’t sign one. And equally surprised if it’s more than one. I think IE knows that Baka is a loss and whilst it’s not ruling him out till Christmas it leaves us a bit short especially in terms of height up there. So I think another forward will be added.

I’d like a right back and MJ backup but don’t think that will happen. FV have backed Evatt thus far and I suspect if he finds a suitable forward they will continue to do so.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Personally I will be surprised if we don’t sign one. And equally surprised if it’s more than one. I think IE knows that Baka is a loss and whilst it’s not ruling him out till Christmas it leaves us a bit short especially in terms of height up there. So I think another forward will be added.

I’d like a right back and MJ backup but don’t think that will happen. FV have backed Evatt thus far and I suspect if he finds a suitable forward they will continue to do so.

On a permanent? Possibly - it happened with Kachunga.

My hunch is two forward loanees, but I wouldn't be amazed if someone comes in on a "permanent" but short contract to January or June. There'll be a lot of that about, I suspect - and a lot of players living out of suitcases rather than relocating families.

[BWFC_Insane]

Personally I will be surprised if we don’t sign one. And equally surprised if it’s more than one. I think IE knows that Baka is a loss and whilst it’s not ruling him out till Christmas it leaves us a bit short especially in terms of height up there. So I think another forward will be added.

I’d like a right back and MJ backup but don’t think that will happen. FV have backed Evatt thus far and I suspect if he finds a suitable forward they will continue to do so.

On a permanent? Possibly - it happened with Kachunga.

My hunch is two forward loanees, but I wouldn't be amazed if someone comes in on a "permanent" but short contract to January or June. There'll be a lot of that about, I suspect - and a lot of players living out of suitcases rather than relocating families.

I think a loan till Jan at this stage.

[jmjhb]

Here's a question: is Kachunga the first player to play for Bolton and one of its twin towns?

I'm wondering if one of our many Francophone players down the years turned up in Le Mans at some point.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Here's a question: is Kachunga the first player to play for Bolton and one of its twin towns?

I'm wondering if one of our many Francophone players down the years turned up in Le Mans at some point.

That is a brilliant question, and one I'm far from able to answer.

But when I had a quick look, I fell down a different rabbit hole and started looking at free-transfer strikers. Least ridiculous name I could conjure is Bury-born Nicky Ajose, who had three separate loan spells at his hometown club. He's 29 now and was released in summer by Exeter, where he had a bad two years. In 2015-16 he scored 24 in 38 at this level for Swindon, and overall he's played around 250 third-tier games, a fifth of them as sub.

Not for a moment suggesting we sign him, but y'know. He did play for Chesterfield, but in between Evatt's spells there.

[BWFC_Insane]

Interestingly Evatt talking about ‘expecting movement’ before the deadline today. Talked about having identified ‘one or two who could improve us’ so I assume he means inward movement not just outgoings.

[nicholaldo]

Here's a question: is Kachunga the first player to play for Bolton and one of its twin towns?

I'm wondering if one of our many Francophone players down the years turned up in Le Mans at some point.

Joe Muscatt signed a one-year contract with us in 2019, making one appearance, before signing for Paderborn's reserve team.

Your question was "played for" though, and Muscatt never actually made a competitive appearance for Paderborn.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Interestingly Evatt talking about ‘expecting movement’ before the deadline today. Talked about having identified ‘one or two who could improve us’ so I assume he means inward movement not just outgoings.

You assume correctly. Iles this morning quotes thusly:
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... -hoolahan/

Things are progressing all the time and things are developing all the time. Obviously we’ve highlighted one or two that we think can improve us and one or two might leave. Incoming I would think one or two. Outgoing, probably the same, one or two. Things are developing all the time so we’re just playing it by ear really.

[Mar]

Wilshire is on the look out for a club. Any takers?

I suspect he'd do really well as an impact sub under Evatt in terms of giving an extra option. Can't say impact sub would really justify his wages but in terms of resurrecting his career Bolton may be a safe option for him.

[jmjhb]

I thought we might be in for Luke Matheson, given we need a right-back, from the area and has L1 experience. However he's gone to Hamilton in the Scottish Championship. That's quite the step down.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles piece this morning saying Evatt hopes to get one or two incoming deals done this weekend, considering we’ve a game on Tuesday night (deadline is 11pm).

Also mentions possibility of deregistering players he’s trying to get rid of. He doesn’t name them but Iles names Crawford and Comley. Loans for the younger lads not a priority right now.
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... dline-day/

It isn’t all down to finance. It’s more down to me wanting this group and this club and this team, as well as the owner, to be sustainable. We don’t want to over-spend, we don’t want to live beyond our means.

We’ve got a sensible budget, it’s a competitive budget, and we’ll stick to it and if that means one in, one out, then we’ll do the best we can to let someone go and get some games and bring someone in who we feel can compete better with our first team players - that’s the reality of football.

We can leave players out of the squad and not register them, so it’s not necessarily a case of balancing numbers. I have responsibility as the manager of this football club to keep it sustainable and not overspend and live within our means. That’s what I will do. I will never ever put this club under any sort of pressure in terms of overspending and recruiting more than we should and spending more on players than we actually should.

This is about the bigger picture for Bolton and I want to be part of that bigger picture and it requires me to be responsible in our recruitment and make sure we do our due diligence to live within our means.” Wanderers are unlikely to allow players out on loan before the deadline, says Evatt, although the option will still be available after Tuesday.

The young ones aren’t governed by a transfer window, so the non-league players then can leave if the right option comes up outside of the window,” he said. “It’s more the senior ones that need first team football that have to be moved on by the Tuesday, so young ones aren’t an immediate concern at the moment for them.

For us it’s about the ones that aren’t playing and can we get them some regular football and then can we strengthen our group with one or two more.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

On Kioso - is he still available?

Substituted today after 28 minutes as Luton, 2-0 down at home to Birmingham, switched to a back four (Kioso was the right-sided centre-back). Didn’t work - they lost 5-0.

Kioso an unused sub in yesterday's home 0-0 with Sheffield United. They played a back four.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Looking at Champo strikers who may be loaned out and Barnsley may let George Miller go. Bolton-born nephew of Mark Halsey, came up through Bury's academy, scored 15 goals in 47 third-tier games, earned a move to Boro who then shunted him sideways to Barnsley. He's since been loaned out to car-crash Bradford and then Scunny, hasn't worked. Still only 23. Described as strong and pacey, can play across front three, and last year the Barnsley gaffer said "he shows me a very good picture from the physical side and running side. He has a big impact."

He played the 90 minutes for them at our place - on the right of midfield in a 3-4-3 - having 75 touches (only four players had more), 79% accurate passing, three key passes (only one player had more), six accurate cross (game's highest) our of 12 (only Isgrove had more attempts). But not a second in the league yet this season.

Could be nowt, could be summat. Nearly deadline time...

[Burnden Paddock]

George Miller’s mum works at our place. I’ll have a word. Though there is a framed Bury shirt of his hanging in the corridor, which I can’t pass without thinking ‘tin pot’. Which I guess they are now, more than ever.

[BWFC_Insane]

Looking at Champo strikers who may be loaned out and Barnsley may let George Miller go. Bolton-born nephew of Mark Halsey, came up through Bury's academy, scored 15 goals in 47 third-tier games, earned a move to Boro who then shunted him sideways to Barnsley. He's since been loaned out to car-crash Bradford and then Scunny, hasn't worked. Still only 23. Described as strong and pacey, can play across front three, and last year the Barnsley gaffer said "he shows me a very good picture from the physical side and running side. He has a big impact."

He played the 90 minutes for them at our place - on the right of midfield in a 3-4-3 - having 75 touches (only four players had more), 79% accurate passing, three key passes (only one player had more), six accurate cross (game's highest) our of 12 (only Isgrove had more attempts). But not a second in the league yet this season.

Could be nowt, could be summat. Nearly deadline time...

It’s a good shout this. I suspect we will have our sights higher but those premiership loans are difficult nowadays. These deals often go down to the last minute inspite of IE wanting business done this weekend it’s often players running out of options and needing to go somewhere to play.

[nicholaldo]

He's also out of contract in the summer, which is another one for the plus column.