WANDERERS saw a deal to sign Sheffield United striker Ched Evans collapse at the death on transfer deadline day.

The 30-year-old was poised to cut short a spell at Fleetwood Town in League One, where he had scored 11 goals in 25 appearances, to sign for the rest of the season with the Whites.

It is understood Wanderers’ paperwork was filed on time for the move to go through at 11pm – with the former Manchester City striker already in situ at the Bolton Whites Hotel.

But delays elsewhere meant that the deal could not be ratified by the league, which leaves Parkinson desperately short in attack for the rest of the campaign.

Although Evans would have been unavailable for Phil Parkinson on Saturday against his parent club, he would have filled the gap left in the attack by Christian Doidge, who returned to Forest Green after his loan-to-buy move collapsed earlier in the month.

Already the Football League’s lowest goal-scorers, Wanderers must now try and mount a survival fight in the Championship with limited options up front.

It proved to be a slow start to the day for Bolton fans, who had to wait until the evening for their first real morsel of transfer news, as the club completed the loan signing of Everton full-back Callum Connolly.

The 21-year-old has been on loan at Wigan Athletic this season and also had success with Ipswich in the 2017/18 campaign.

Connolly can play in defence or in midfield.

Wanderers turned down two bids for Luca Connell, believed to be from Premier League sides Southampton and Brighton, and also rejected an offer from an un-named League One side to take Erhun Oztumer on loan.

Much of the talk leading into deadline day was on whether one of Connell’s top-flight suitors would prise him away from Bolton – but after failing to come to an agreement on price the interest ended rather abruptly mid-morning.

Talk of a move for Wigan striker James Vaughan was quickly quashed but reports also emerged of interest from Bury in Wanderers’ keeper Jake Turner, which did not materialise.

Wanderers have also been strongly linked with Nigerian centre-back Efe Ambrose, who turned down a contract offer to stay with Hibernian and is now available on a free transfer.

One player who will not be joining Wanderers is ex-Fulham midfielder Chris David, who had been on trial with the club in the last few weeks. The Dutchman has agreed a move to Swedish club Helsingborgs and is due to play for them in a friendly this weekend.