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Wanderers are preparing to be “tested” in the transfer market this summer as they bid to hold on to key assets like top-scorer Dapo Afolayan.
Fulham are understood to have watched the 24-year-old over the last few months, while elsewhere there has also been Championship interest in club skipper Ricardo Santos.
Bolton have offered a contract extension to Santos, whose current deal runs to 2023, and have Afolayan tied up for another two seasons.
And though they have not received any official interest at present, Ian Evatt expects that recent performances will make some of his players wanted men at the end of the season.
“The problem we have when we are playing like we are at the moment is people get highlighted and targeted,” he said. “I have no doubt we’ll be tested in the summer and whatever decisions we do make will be what we feel is in the best interests of the football club. But we are under no pressure to sell. It will be what we feel is right, Sharon (Brittan) and myself and the rest of the board.
“They better have a big cheque book is all I am saying because there is absolutely no pressure to sell. Sharon and the rest of the board have put this club in a fantastic position. Now everything is on our terms and that’s how we want it.”
Evatt says the turnover of players at Bolton will slow this summer as he looks to be more selective and build on what has been achieved in the previous two windows.
Working with technical performance director, Chris Markham, and his analysis department, the Bolton boss says he has already earmarked signings within the current budget who could improve his current squad.
“I think what we have done is just completely transform the group,” he said of his business in January. “We have improved, we have got players of a good age but with us on a journey.
“I think there are some more strategic signings to be made in the summer, which will make us even better. And then fundamentally it’s about how we hang onto our best players.”
Wanderers will have Elias Kachunga back in contention for the visit of Plymouth at the weekend and with the threshold for yellow cards now extended, MJ Williams is no longer facing a two-game ban when he receives his next caution.
Evatt confirmed, however, that Afolayan has been carrying a groin injury and that Kyle Dempsey – also nursing a similar problem – will not be back until next weekend.
“Dapo is an important player and we will manage him the best we can,” he added. “I think it became more and more sore as the (Morecambe) game went on, so we will have to see how that goes for Saturday now.”
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