WANDERERS are one of a handful of League One clubs who have been linked with a loan move for Luton Town’s Joe Taylor.

The 21-year-old striker has been at Colchester United during the first half of the season and has managed to score 12 goals in a side that has been struggling near the foot of the table.

The Hatters recalled Taylor earlier this week with a view to sending him out on loan at a higher level, and reports since have linked Bolton, alongside Wycombe and Oxford United, with his services.

Though Wanderers have hinted at it being a relatively quiet January transfer window they have ample space in the squad to bring in new players, if needed, and also have room on their loan quota.

Established links with Luton could put them in a good position, too, with the two sides meeting on Sunday in the FA Cup third round, and Ian Evatt being a friend and former team-mate of the Hatters’ boss Rob Edwards.

Taylor was brought into professional football by Peterborough United from National League side King’s Lynn in March 2022, having previously worked as a barman alongside a part-time contract with his club.

He played 20 times for Posh, primarily as a substitute, but did enough to attract the attention of Luton’s head of recruitment, Mick Harford, and chief scout Phil Chapple, to earn a move to Kenilworth Road for a club fighting to get into the Premier League.

He came off the bench in the play-off final at Wembley and had a late goal disallowed against Coventry City but scored in the penalty shoot-out as the Hatters completed an incredible return to the top-flight for the first time since 1992.

Wanderers have four out-and-out striker options, with top-scorer Dion Charles commanding a regular spot alongside either Victor Adeboyejo or Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, and Cameron Jerome – himself a former Luton player – used off the bench to see out games.

They lost the services of Dan Nlundulu at the start of December, however, to a serious hamstring injury which has required surgery. The former Southampton front man is now at the start of his rehabilitation but not expected to return until he back end of the season at the earliest.

Bolton have also lost Carlos Mendes Gomes until early February after he was called up by Guinea Bissau for the African Cup of Nations. Another former Luton man whose time at the club has chiefly been in midfield, he was also considered by Evatt an option as a secondary striker.