WANDERERS have offered ex-Sheffield United, Everton and England defender Phil Jagielka a chance to train with the club as he looks for a route back into football.

The 38-year-old wants to stay in the game after his release at Bramall Lane and Ian Evatt has agreed to let him keep up his fitness at Lostock.

Club sources have indicated to The Bolton News, however, that the arrangement is a favour to Jagielka to help him stay in shape during pre-season.

Jagielka – who is expected to link-up with the Whites next week - has made more than 650 career appearances and featured 10 times for the Blades last season in the Premier League.

He has played for just two professional clubs – Sheffield United and Everton – during a 21-year stint as a professional, and also picked up 40 caps for his country, scoring on three occasions and playing at the 2014 World Cup finals.

The potential of a deal at Wanderers looks unlikely, with the club seeking to reduce the average age of its squad this summer after promotion to League One.

The situation mirrors that of Charlie Adam 12 months ago, with Evatt offering his former Blackpool team-mate a chance to get fit as he looked for a new club.

The Scot featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wigan Athletic before securing a move to Scottish Championship side Dundee, where he helped his boyhood club gain promotion to the SPL and was also voted into the divisional team of the year.

The Bolton News also understands that Wanderers have not made an offer to Boreham Wood striker Kabongo Tshimanga.

Several reports yesterday claimed that the Whites were close to signing the 23-year-old England C international striker but they have been played down inside the club.

Tshimanga scored 22 goals in 47 games for National League Boreham Wood in all competitions last season and previously played for MK Dons in the EFL.

Wanderers have made eight new signings this summer, capturing Hamburg’s Xavier Amaechi on loan on Monday for six months. The Whites remain in the market to sign at least one more attacking player after bringing in Joel Dixon, Josh Sheehan, George Johnston, Will Aimson, Dapo Afolayan, Declan John and Amadou Bakayoko in the last few weeks.