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Wigan Athletic have emerged as the Championship club trying to prize Josh Vela away from Wanderers’ grasp.
Two bids have been turned down from the Latics so far, with reports suggesting that ex-Bolton striker Craig Davies has now been offered as a makeweight in a £250,000 deal.
The Bolton News understand Wanderers are not considering any swap deal at present but are bracing themselves for a third bid from their near neighbours.
Vela is out of contract next summer and came close to quitting the Macron in January when Cardiff City tried to take advantage of the Whites’ then-precarious financial position by making a bid.
The 22-year-old has settled in Phil Parkinson’s midfield having played most of last season out of position at right-back. And ironically, it is as a full-back that Gary Caldwell is believed to have targeted Vela, who came right through the Whites academy ranks from the age of nine.
Wigan have used highly-rated 18-year-old Luke Burke in their first two Championship games but want a more experienced option. QPR’s James Perch – a former DW Stadium favourite – is also a target, although his wages are said to be an issue.
Parkinson wants to build the team which has started the League One season off so well, with two wins from their first two games.
“We’re not going to get carried away, me and the chairman know we have got to improve the squad further,” he told The Bolton News. “We are realistic.
“Hopefully within the next week or so we can strengthen further and make ourselves as competitive as possible.”
Parkinson travelled to watch next opponents Bristol Rovers in person on Sunday as they chalked up their first win of the season against Oxford United.
Wanderers will travel down south this afternoon looking to continue a perfect start in League One but despite the manager’s scouting mission, he admits there may still be some surprises in store at the Memorial Stadium.
“We can show them videos, give them details and tell them what to expect but sometimes you can get caught out and something that happens on the day can catch you on the back foot – that is when it comes down to the players,” he said.
“It’s another tight and compact stadium. We’ll look at what we did well at Wimbledon, what we can improve on, and make sure we’re as prepared as we possibly can be.”
Source
Two bids have been turned down from the Latics so far, with reports suggesting that ex-Bolton striker Craig Davies has now been offered as a makeweight in a £250,000 deal.
The Bolton News understand Wanderers are not considering any swap deal at present but are bracing themselves for a third bid from their near neighbours.
Vela is out of contract next summer and came close to quitting the Macron in January when Cardiff City tried to take advantage of the Whites’ then-precarious financial position by making a bid.
The 22-year-old has settled in Phil Parkinson’s midfield having played most of last season out of position at right-back. And ironically, it is as a full-back that Gary Caldwell is believed to have targeted Vela, who came right through the Whites academy ranks from the age of nine.
Wigan have used highly-rated 18-year-old Luke Burke in their first two Championship games but want a more experienced option. QPR’s James Perch – a former DW Stadium favourite – is also a target, although his wages are said to be an issue.
Parkinson wants to build the team which has started the League One season off so well, with two wins from their first two games.
“We’re not going to get carried away, me and the chairman know we have got to improve the squad further,” he told The Bolton News. “We are realistic.
“Hopefully within the next week or so we can strengthen further and make ourselves as competitive as possible.”
Parkinson travelled to watch next opponents Bristol Rovers in person on Sunday as they chalked up their first win of the season against Oxford United.
Wanderers will travel down south this afternoon looking to continue a perfect start in League One but despite the manager’s scouting mission, he admits there may still be some surprises in store at the Memorial Stadium.
“We can show them videos, give them details and tell them what to expect but sometimes you can get caught out and something that happens on the day can catch you on the back foot – that is when it comes down to the players,” he said.
“It’s another tight and compact stadium. We’ll look at what we did well at Wimbledon, what we can improve on, and make sure we’re as prepared as we possibly can be.”
Source
