WANDERERS have missed out on long-term defensive target Jack Tucker.

Ian Evatt had been in discussion with the Gillingham centre-half and his representatives for several weeks but after pushing for an answer was told this week that the player does not want to move up North.

MK Dons eventually won the race for the 22-year-old, who is expected to command a substantial training fee despite being out of contract this summer.

Wanderers’ League One rivals have also had a long-standing interest in the defender and reports yesterday claimed they are looking to him as a replacement for the sought-after Harry Darling.

Wanderers do have other targets and after getting a final answer from Tucker’s camp they can now push on to pursue them.

As The Bolton News went to press last night, one of those targets was on the verge of signing on loan for the season.

Liverpool’s Conor Bradley is all set for a move to the University of Bolton Stadium and could even link up with his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Portugal.

Bradley has been on international duty with Northern Ireland alongside Dion Charles and will come in as a challenger on the right side of the defence.

Wanderers fly out to the Algarve this weekend to begin a week-long camp, from which The Bolton News will bring you all the latest news, via chief football writer, Marc Iles.

Back on home base, Wanderers also confirmed the names of three B Team players who have been signed as part of Matt Craddock’s shadow squad.

Wolves striker Conor Carty, a Republic of Ireland Under-19 international, has joined the Whites looking to build on a handful of Papa John’s Trophy games he played for the Molineux men over the past couple of seasons.

Warrington Town midfielder Matthew Grivosti will feature for Bolton’s second string after scoring nine goals in 21 starts for the Northern Premier League club last season.

And former Manchester United Connor Stanley completed a trio of additions, the versatile attacker having spent last season on loan in the US with Atlanta 2021.
Stanley started his youth career with Birmingham City and signed for United in 2018.