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IF Dougie Freedman gets his way in the transfer market this summer, then Wanderers' 12-year wait for a striker who can top the mythical 20-goal mark could soon come to an end.
Not since Michael Ricketts plundered 24 goals the last time the Whites escaped the second tier has a Whites player reached the figure usually used as a benchmark for a prolific striker.
But Freedman is believed to be eyeing up two fresh faces who could add significantly to the club’s goal tally.
One of them, Leicester City’s Jermaine Beckford, still has a point to prove at this level despite belting 85 goals in three seasons in League One with Leeds United a few years back.
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He has retained a decent scoring record with Everton, Leicester and in a loan spell with Huddersfield Town ever since – but one comparative with any one of the strikers already at Freedman’s disposal at the Reebok.
David Ngog, Marvin Sordell and Craig Davies have weighed in with a fair number of goals throughout their Bolton careers, they have never been what you might call abundant.
Youngsters Tom Eaves and Zach Clough remain in the untested category but both seem to have grabbed the manager’s attention and could well force their way ahead of some of their senior contemporaries.
Reports suggest that Beckford would command a weighty enough fee of around £1million but the Whites boss has made it clear that he will not be wasting cash this summer in a message that could well be aimed at the King Power Stadium.
You might be forgiven for thinking the mainstay of Freedman’s budget could be being reserved for someone else.
And if Wanderers are to sign someone with a pedigree of delivering regular goals, they are unlikely to come cheap.
Chris Eagles scored 12 times from the wing last season and Freedman would like to have the option of using him off the main striker to better harness his eye for goal.
Cardiff showed last season that success can be achieved without a 20-goal man but the Welsh club’s example is very much the exception in recent years among the Championship’s successful clubs. Likewise, Blackburn Rovers struggled like mad despite being able to call on the division’s most lethal poacher, Jordan Rhodes.
Wanderers survived for a long time without a real goal-getter in the Premier League years. Even a hitman as razor sharp as Nicolas Anelka had to fall in line with an ethos where individual accolades came very much second to results.
But Freedman might need both next season, and his next big task may be to convince the club to invest in a player who is capable of adding razor sharp edge to the consistency he instilled last season.
Previous Seasons top scorers
2012/13 Chris Eagles 12
2011/12 Ivan Klasnic 9
2010/11 Johan Elmander 12
2009/10 Kevin Davies 9
2008/09 Kevin Davies 11
2007/08 Nicolas Anelka 11
2006/07 Nicolas Anelka 12
2005/06 Stelios 12
2004/05 Davies/ Diouf 9
2003/04 Kevin Nolan 12
2002/03 Djorkaeff/Okocha/Pedersen/Ricketts 7
2001/02 Michael Ricketts 15
2000/01 Michael Ricketts 24
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Not since Michael Ricketts plundered 24 goals the last time the Whites escaped the second tier has a Whites player reached the figure usually used as a benchmark for a prolific striker.
But Freedman is believed to be eyeing up two fresh faces who could add significantly to the club’s goal tally.
One of them, Leicester City’s Jermaine Beckford, still has a point to prove at this level despite belting 85 goals in three seasons in League One with Leeds United a few years back.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
He has retained a decent scoring record with Everton, Leicester and in a loan spell with Huddersfield Town ever since – but one comparative with any one of the strikers already at Freedman’s disposal at the Reebok.
David Ngog, Marvin Sordell and Craig Davies have weighed in with a fair number of goals throughout their Bolton careers, they have never been what you might call abundant.
Youngsters Tom Eaves and Zach Clough remain in the untested category but both seem to have grabbed the manager’s attention and could well force their way ahead of some of their senior contemporaries.
Reports suggest that Beckford would command a weighty enough fee of around £1million but the Whites boss has made it clear that he will not be wasting cash this summer in a message that could well be aimed at the King Power Stadium.
You might be forgiven for thinking the mainstay of Freedman’s budget could be being reserved for someone else.
And if Wanderers are to sign someone with a pedigree of delivering regular goals, they are unlikely to come cheap.
Chris Eagles scored 12 times from the wing last season and Freedman would like to have the option of using him off the main striker to better harness his eye for goal.
Cardiff showed last season that success can be achieved without a 20-goal man but the Welsh club’s example is very much the exception in recent years among the Championship’s successful clubs. Likewise, Blackburn Rovers struggled like mad despite being able to call on the division’s most lethal poacher, Jordan Rhodes.
Wanderers survived for a long time without a real goal-getter in the Premier League years. Even a hitman as razor sharp as Nicolas Anelka had to fall in line with an ethos where individual accolades came very much second to results.
But Freedman might need both next season, and his next big task may be to convince the club to invest in a player who is capable of adding razor sharp edge to the consistency he instilled last season.
Previous Seasons top scorers
2012/13 Chris Eagles 12
2011/12 Ivan Klasnic 9
2010/11 Johan Elmander 12
2009/10 Kevin Davies 9
2008/09 Kevin Davies 11
2007/08 Nicolas Anelka 11
2006/07 Nicolas Anelka 12
2005/06 Stelios 12
2004/05 Davies/ Diouf 9
2003/04 Kevin Nolan 12
2002/03 Djorkaeff/Okocha/Pedersen/Ricketts 7
2001/02 Michael Ricketts 15
2000/01 Michael Ricketts 24
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