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Ian Evatt says he is “confident” that Declan John and Dapo Afolayan will return to Wanderers next season.
The Bolton boss believes the loan pair – who joined from Swansea City and West Ham United, respectively, in the January transfer window – will have plenty of offers on the table as free agents this summer.
But after helping the Whites secure promotion from League Two, Evatt reckons both players will have an emotional connection to the club which will put it at the front of the queue.
“I am confident we can get them because what we have done is we have built credit with the two of them,” he told The Bolton News.
“That is not only because we have been a success but when I spoke to them in January I promised them certain things, how we play, the way we train, how they would get treated, what the club is like, what the fanbase is like, and everything I have said has come to fruition.
“They now understand what a fantastic club Bolton Wanderers is, and what a journey we are about to go on.
“They want to be a part of that, I have no doubts.”
Evatt met with technical performance director Chris Markham on Friday to review recruitment plans for the summer and will speak to each of his players individually on Monday before announcing a retained list.
Budgets have already been discussed with the club’s ownership and just as he did last season, Evatt is keen to underline that Wanderers will not be risking their financial security on any transfer business.
Fans are keen to see John and Afolayan back in action at the UniBol next season but Evatt admits the pair will need to understand the club’s policy on sustainability.
“Of course we will do what we can to keep them both but, again, it has to be done in a sustainable manner,” he said. “It has to be right for us and we can’t break the bank for people.
“We have a clear policy and if they come within that policy then great, fantastic, we’d love to have them. But if they don’t then we will thank them very much for all their efforts and what they have done for us this season but we will move on to other targets.”
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The Bolton boss believes the loan pair – who joined from Swansea City and West Ham United, respectively, in the January transfer window – will have plenty of offers on the table as free agents this summer.
But after helping the Whites secure promotion from League Two, Evatt reckons both players will have an emotional connection to the club which will put it at the front of the queue.
“I am confident we can get them because what we have done is we have built credit with the two of them,” he told The Bolton News.
“That is not only because we have been a success but when I spoke to them in January I promised them certain things, how we play, the way we train, how they would get treated, what the club is like, what the fanbase is like, and everything I have said has come to fruition.
“They now understand what a fantastic club Bolton Wanderers is, and what a journey we are about to go on.
“They want to be a part of that, I have no doubts.”
Evatt met with technical performance director Chris Markham on Friday to review recruitment plans for the summer and will speak to each of his players individually on Monday before announcing a retained list.
Budgets have already been discussed with the club’s ownership and just as he did last season, Evatt is keen to underline that Wanderers will not be risking their financial security on any transfer business.
Fans are keen to see John and Afolayan back in action at the UniBol next season but Evatt admits the pair will need to understand the club’s policy on sustainability.
“Of course we will do what we can to keep them both but, again, it has to be done in a sustainable manner,” he said. “It has to be right for us and we can’t break the bank for people.
“We have a clear policy and if they come within that policy then great, fantastic, we’d love to have them. But if they don’t then we will thank them very much for all their efforts and what they have done for us this season but we will move on to other targets.”
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