WANDERERS want two more players on board before this evening’s transfer deadline.
Ryan Hardie is believed to be the top target, although Wrexham want to sign a replacement striker before the 28-year-old is allowed to leave the Racecourse Ground.
Steven Schumacher also wants another player on board before 7pm and if his plans are successful, Bolton will have brought eight new players to the Toughsheet Stadium in the January window.
Speaking after Saturday’s 1-0 win at AFC Wimbledon in which new loan signing Corey Blackett-Taylor scored the winner, the Bolton boss outlined his plans for deadline day.
“I think it's clear, and I have said it all along, we do need another forward player, especially with the injury to Marcus Forss,” he told The Bolton News. “I would have wanted one anyway, if Marcus had not got injured. So, if we can get another striker, then perfect.
“And I think there might be another area of the pitch as well that might crop up over the weekend. So, I won't give too much away on that. But we'll see.
“Ideally, we get the lads in that we want. If we don't, then as we have shown today, we are more than capable of getting results in this league. So, we'll just keep going.”
The chase for Hardie has been complicated by a knee injury sustained by the Scot in mid-December. His summer move to Wrexham has not gone as planned, with just two starts in the Championship, but concerns over his fitness have left Wanderers – and others – monitoring his comeback before committing to an offer.
Schumacher worked with him at Plymouth, and Hardie scored 17 times in the 2022/23 season that they got promotion from League One, also making an encouraging start to the following season at the higher level.
There appears no chance of Hardie returning to Plymouth, however, with head coach Tom Cleverley appearing to rule his club out of the race to sign the striker at the weekend.
"He's a fantastic player, he has been a great servant for the club but there is no truth in that,” he said when asked about rivalling Bolton to take the player on loan.
Sources close to the deal claim there have been other clubs in the Championship express an interest, with Bristol City’s name regularly linked over the last few weeks.
Phil Parkinson has also said Hardie will not be allowed to leave the club unless he manages to bring in another front man on deadline day.
France-based Angers striker Sidiki Cherif and Barnsley's Davis Keilor-Dunn have been linked with Wrexham over the last few weeks and former Bolton boss Parkinson wants to ensure he is not left short.
"Ryan's not going anywhere unless we bring one in. I've told him that," he said.
"You never know in the next couple of days, but we've got to make sure our squad is strong and we've got options off the bench to change games if we need it."
Wanderers completed a packed January with a hard-fought win at Wimbledon in which Ethan Erhahon received great praise for his performance in midfield.
“I thought he was great today,” Schumacher said. “Brilliant, in fact.
“I think in the last three games he has been outstanding. He is someone who we wanted to bring into the club because of how good he is on second balls.
“He intercepts things. He intercepted one that got us another big chance that John McAtee should have scored from, actually. And his quality on the ball is good as well.
“He is coming into some good form. And right now, that's what we need. As many good players playing well as possible.”
The Bolton News will be running a transfer deadline day blog from 7am until late to bring you all the latest news and gossip from the club and around League One on what promises to be an exciting day of deals.
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