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EXPECT the unexpected: A mantra Phil Parkinson has found handy in the transfer windows since he walked through the door of Bolton Wanderers.
Late deals – both incoming and outgoing – have been commonplace in the last couple of years as Bolton have scrambled right until the last moment to improve their squad.
But what can fans bank on happening before today’s 5pm deadline?
Firstly, we will find out if Ken Anderson’s cash offers have been enough to lure another striker to The University of Bolton Stadium.
It is little secret that Ipswich Town’s Joe Garner is one of the players being seriously considered but whispers coming out of Portman Road yesterday suggested there was still some way to go before the 30-year-old – rated at more than £500,000 - could become a Bolton player.
Wanderers nonchalantly dropped into the conversation last week they had made two six-figure bids for strikers, although tabloid links to both Hearts’ Kyle Lafferty and Nottingham Forest’s Apostolos Vellios were rubbished yesterday morning.
A £200,000 fee was found for Josh Magennis from Charlton but Anderson refused to match Sunderland’s inflated bonuses for Bradford City’s Charlie Wyke, indicating the chairman is not about to throw his money around flagrantly.
With the loan window open until the end of the month there is always a safety net. Garner could well come into that category, as could any number of Premier League strikers who find themselves displaced by events over the next 12 hours.
Wanderers are likely to deal with their goalkeeper situation today after shifting their target from the Birmingham-bound Lee Camp for another experienced Championship stopper.
Sources suggest if things go according to plan, Parkinson will have genuine competition for Ben Alnwick in the number one spot this season.
The left-back position is another one which could be resolved today.
Leicester City’s Callum Elder is one option – although he is more likely to be loaned and thus not affected by deadline – but Parkinson is keen to work with his own players and would favour a permanent deal, should one become available.
Another position considered a matter of priority for the Wanderers boss is midfield.
Marc Wilson is being viewed primarily as a centre-half, which leaves Jason Lowe, Josh Vela and Josh Murphy as the most likely starters in the 4-3-3 system used extensively in the last few weeks by the Whites.
Gary O’Neil has been brought in to do the job he did so well at The Hawthorns on Saturday, using his experience to steer the ship home in the latter stages.
Reports on the continent suggested yesterday that Auxerre’s 20-year-old Abdoulaye Sissako would be allowed to leave, provided there was a sell-on clause inserted at his new club. And with the likelihood of Stephen Ireland getting a deal looking slim in the extreme, the French youngster could be an interesting option.
While the more pragmatic among us predict Wanderers will complete one or two deals before 5pm, Ken Anderson’s quote from earlier this week – “I am hopeful that we’ll have brought several new faces to the squad,” – hints it could be a much busier day.
It seems unlikely that we will get a Gary Madine-esque bombshell in this transfer window, with all signs pointing to NO player leaving on a permanent deal.
Connor Hall and Jake Turner have both been ear-marked for loan moves before the end of the month. But, as things stand, there are no live negotiations to sign any members of Parkinson’s squad, including Adam le Fondre and Mark Beevers, who have both had rumoured interest from elsewhere.
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Late deals – both incoming and outgoing – have been commonplace in the last couple of years as Bolton have scrambled right until the last moment to improve their squad.
But what can fans bank on happening before today’s 5pm deadline?
Firstly, we will find out if Ken Anderson’s cash offers have been enough to lure another striker to The University of Bolton Stadium.
It is little secret that Ipswich Town’s Joe Garner is one of the players being seriously considered but whispers coming out of Portman Road yesterday suggested there was still some way to go before the 30-year-old – rated at more than £500,000 - could become a Bolton player.
Wanderers nonchalantly dropped into the conversation last week they had made two six-figure bids for strikers, although tabloid links to both Hearts’ Kyle Lafferty and Nottingham Forest’s Apostolos Vellios were rubbished yesterday morning.
A £200,000 fee was found for Josh Magennis from Charlton but Anderson refused to match Sunderland’s inflated bonuses for Bradford City’s Charlie Wyke, indicating the chairman is not about to throw his money around flagrantly.
With the loan window open until the end of the month there is always a safety net. Garner could well come into that category, as could any number of Premier League strikers who find themselves displaced by events over the next 12 hours.
Wanderers are likely to deal with their goalkeeper situation today after shifting their target from the Birmingham-bound Lee Camp for another experienced Championship stopper.
Sources suggest if things go according to plan, Parkinson will have genuine competition for Ben Alnwick in the number one spot this season.
The left-back position is another one which could be resolved today.
Leicester City’s Callum Elder is one option – although he is more likely to be loaned and thus not affected by deadline – but Parkinson is keen to work with his own players and would favour a permanent deal, should one become available.
Another position considered a matter of priority for the Wanderers boss is midfield.
Marc Wilson is being viewed primarily as a centre-half, which leaves Jason Lowe, Josh Vela and Josh Murphy as the most likely starters in the 4-3-3 system used extensively in the last few weeks by the Whites.
Gary O’Neil has been brought in to do the job he did so well at The Hawthorns on Saturday, using his experience to steer the ship home in the latter stages.
Reports on the continent suggested yesterday that Auxerre’s 20-year-old Abdoulaye Sissako would be allowed to leave, provided there was a sell-on clause inserted at his new club. And with the likelihood of Stephen Ireland getting a deal looking slim in the extreme, the French youngster could be an interesting option.
While the more pragmatic among us predict Wanderers will complete one or two deals before 5pm, Ken Anderson’s quote from earlier this week – “I am hopeful that we’ll have brought several new faces to the squad,” – hints it could be a much busier day.
It seems unlikely that we will get a Gary Madine-esque bombshell in this transfer window, with all signs pointing to NO player leaving on a permanent deal.
Connor Hall and Jake Turner have both been ear-marked for loan moves before the end of the month. But, as things stand, there are no live negotiations to sign any members of Parkinson’s squad, including Adam le Fondre and Mark Beevers, who have both had rumoured interest from elsewhere.
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