TRANSFER deadline day is upon us once more – but will Neil Lennon pull a rabbit from the hat? Or are Wanderers destined to land another turkey?

History suggests that last-minute deals have seldom gone well for Bolton, with some infamously unsuccessful deals concluded on the final day.

There have been a few gems plucked from the ether on the final day but in the main, the last-minute scramble hyped up beyond all recognition by Sky Sports News and the like has rarely produced a success story.

The present transfer window system was introduced in the 2002-03 season – before which clubs could sign anyone they liked between June 1 and March 31.

Windows were introduced as part of a compromise agreement with the European Commission about how the whole transfer system worked and how it could best preserve contractual stability for both the player and the club while allowing movement at prescribed times during the year – the summer and winter transfer windows in effect.

The alternative was to bring football in line with most other industries where contracts were not enforceable or liable for appropriate compensation, i.e. notice periods being served and players moving at will. The football authorities across Europe felt this would fatally undermine the footballing economy and remove the incentive for clubs to invest in developing players.

Critics of the system claim it forces clubs – and particularly struggling ones – to commit to spending money they would not have previously spent, and also artificially inflates prices at certain times of the year, creating a false economy.

Here we pass judgement on 10 transfer deadline deals that Wanderers have done down the years and whether the club would have been better off keeping their money in their pocket.

1. Ivan Klasnic

The Croatian striker was loaned from Werder Bremen by Gary Megson and would, in fact, prove the last signing made by the manager formerly known as the Ginger Mourinho.

Cocksure and lethal in front of goal, there were obvious deficiencies in Klasnic’s game, but the fans took to him right away.

Owen Coyle eventually signed him on a permanent basis and though he started less than half of his 94 Bolton appearances, he had a decent strike rate with 24 goals in all. Judgement: Success.

2. Marvin Sordell

Snapped up ahead of Cardiff City in the last few hours of the 2012 winter window, Sordell’s £3.2million move from Watford was doomed from the start.

Owen Coyle gave the young striker just a few fleeting appearances as the club slid towards relegation and by the next season he struggled to impose himself.

Coyle’s successor Dougie Freedman claimed Sordell was homesick, tackled a perceived problem with social media, and then loaned him out to Charlton before eventually selling him to Burnley for just £500,000. Judgement: Disaster.

3. David Ngog

Feted as a French star of the future when Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez signed him from Paris St Germain, Wanderers had been chasing the striker for 12 months before eventually paying £4.5million for his services.

That fee was actually £2m less than Owen Coyle had nearly paid the previous summer – but Ngog failed miserably to find goals for his new club.

While there were flashes of his talent, Ngog managed just 16 goals in 91 appearances in all before his contract was bought out by Swansea City in 2014. Judgement: Terrible.

4. Pierre Yves-Andre/Florent Laville/Salva Ballesta

When Michael Ricketts joined Middlesbrough for £3.5milion in 2003, Sam Allardyce had to act quickly to find reinforcements in the battle against the drop.

He found three players at the 11th hour – with Florent Laville arguably the pick of the bunch. The Frenchman, signed from Lyon, lived up to his nickname “The Rock” and made a memorable debut against Manchester United.

He later signed permanently but a serious injury curtailed his career.

Yves-Andre and Ballesta both struggled to make a serious impact despite their obvious technical prowess but helped Wanderers survive that season. Judgement: Rock solid

5. Grzegorz Rasiak

Wanderers had lost Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea for £15millon and suffice it to say, the well-travelled Pole was not the man fans wanted as a replacement.

Gary Megson brought the former Spurs striker in on loan from Southampton but he failed to score in seven appearances. Judgement: Strike out.

6. Jon Otsemoboor

The young defender was brought in on loan from Liverpool in 2004 but played just one game, a 3-1 defeat against Manchester City. Let us never speak of him again. Judgement: Miss.

7. Oscar Perez

Blink and you’ll miss it Wanderers career began in 2006 when the Spanish midfielder arrived from Segunda Division side Cordoba.

He didn’t manage a first team appearance but later carved out a decent career with Tenerife, Granada and Racing Santander. Judgement: Who?

8. Fabrice Fernandes

French winger whose signing was only actually confirmed by Wanderers the following day in the summer window of 2005. He played in the UEFA Cup but made just one league appearance before fading into obscurity. Judgement: Better late than never.

9. Daniel Sturridge

Owen Coyle signed Sturridge on loan from Chelsea in 2011 and he became an instant hit, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Wolves on his debut.

He finished with eight goals in 12 appearances but his success at Wanderers meant a permanent deal could never be done.

Sturridge has since moved on to Liverpool and become an England regular – but is held in high regard by Whites fans. Judgement: Loan star.

10. Rochinha

Neil Lennon made a handful of late signings in the January window including the young Portuguese midfielder on loan from Benfica.

His debut against Ipswich Town was a memorable one but he struggled with the physicality of the English game and returned home in the summer. Judgement: So-so.