Wanderers are closing in on a deal for versatile attacker Carlos Mendes Gomes from Luton Town.

Gomes spent last season on loan at Fleetwood Town, scoring 10 goals in 38 appearances for Scott Brown’s side including a stunning strike in a 2-1 defeat against the Whites at the Highbury Stadium.

Evatt is a long-term admirer of the 24-year-old, who made a name for himself at Morecambe.

The Bolton boss said: “The cat is out of the bag, football and secrets don’t really go well together!

“As far as where we are right now, it is close. It is very close. But it is not done yet and what I’ve learned in this game is until it is absolutely done and finalised, not to count my chickens. We will not be doing any of that over the weekend.”

He added: “He is multi-functional, multi-dimensional. He can play wide, he can play up front, he can play as a No. 8 or No. 10.

“He brings the ability to dribble and drive past defenders, to receive centrally in tight spaces and create.

“I think that is something we haven’t had, so he adds lots of things. He is a player who I have admired for three years – ever since that season in League Two.

“It has now become achievable for us and hopefully we can get it finalised and over the lines.”

Luton signed Gomes in the summer of 2021 after an impressive campaign at Morecambe, scoring 16 goals in all competitions and helping the Shrimps win promotion to the third tier via the play-offs.

Wanderers have already brought in six fresh faces this season following the arrivals of Nathan Baxter, Joel Coleman, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Dan Nlundulu, Will Forrester and Zac Ashworth.

Evatt’s men kick-off the new season with a home fixture against Lincoln City on Saturday, August 5.