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Wanderers want at least two more signings in the transfer window – and Ian Evatt is prepared to wait for them.
It has been a methodical summer so far for the Bolton boss, who has brought in just one new permanent addition in Jack Iredale, and two loanees in the form of James Trafford, from Manchester City, and Conor Bradley, from Liverpool.
Evatt says he has walked away from some negotiations as player demands or rival bidders drove the price up beyond what he was willing to pay.
But he is confident the right signings will come along, even if he has to wait to the end of August.
“We value every player we look at – and if that valuation increases away from what we believe it should be, then we will walk away from deals. I will never put this club at risk,” he told The Bolton News. “We have to be smart and patient, it is the way football has to be.
“We are really strict with our policies. It is important we stick to it because one you get involved in bidding wars you’ll end up in the situation where players are not coming here for the right reasons.
“This club has so much to offer – facilities, history, fanbase – and if the way we have progressed is not enough to motivate you, and it is the financial reward, then we are probably not the right club for you anyway.
“That is what we are thinking and where we are at. I am happy with the situation at the moment, and even more so with what I have seen from the players in the days we have been back.”
Evatt got ahead of the curve in January with some relatively heavy investment in transfer fees for the likes of Aaron Morley, Dion Charles and Kyle Dempsey.
He feels a couple more quality additions will make all the difference to Bolton’s chances of improving on last season’s ninth-placed finish and pushing closer to their promotion target.
Evatt also predicts that the availability of some players will change in the next few weeks as clubs in the Premier League and Championship start to add to their own squads, and some are shuffled to the back of the pack.
“We all know once pre-season starts players might have the ambition and aim that they are going to play or be involved in first teams but when it doesn’t materialise then things can change by the hour in a transfer window,” he said.
“We will be patient and see what develops and comes up for us but I don’t think our fans should worry or panic. “There was never going to be that many signings because of what we have done in previous windows where there has been a huge turnover of players.
“I think two have survived from my first game – and that’s my captain and vice-captain – and there will never be that transition of players every window. “Within this squad there is very little wastage. I think everyone is fit for purpose and can contribute something and that is the first time we have really been in that position.”
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