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Ian Evatt hopes that Wanderers will not be at a transfer standstill for much longer.
The Bolton boss snapped up five players earlier in the summer but has waited patiently for the last fortnight for new targets to become available.
Nathan Baxter, Joel Coleman, Josh Dacres-Cogley (pictured), Dan Nlundulu and Will Forrester all played a part in yesterday’s behind-closed-doors practice match against League Two Bradford City.
The game finished 5-2, with Nlundulu one of five strikers on the scoresheet alongside Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Dion Charles, Cameron Jerome and Victor Adeboyejo.
Evatt feels the club is getting closer to another signing, hinting that it could possibly be completed before his team face Salford City on Saturday at Moor Lane.
Sharing the fans’ eagerness to see fresh faces added to the squad, he told The Bolton News: “We are in an awkward position now because we have moved past the free transfer market and now we are looking at signing players for money.
“And when you are putting the club’s, the fans’ money at risk, we want to make sure we get it right.
“The players we are targeting are all, or mostly, attached to football clubs. And it is a domino effect at this stage – and we know that once one moves, it triggers the next move.
“Clubs haven’t really finished their pre-season tours yet but coming towards the end of the week then most of them should be complete, players will be back, the number of places in each squad will start to make themselves clearer and then hopefully we can get things moving.
“But, yes, it is not straightforward. We are doing everything we can to get things done and though I can’t guarantee every one of the four or five will get done by the start of the season, we will be stronger, I have no doubt about that.”
Meanwhile, Wanderers have confirmed the details of their three EFL Trophy group games this season.
Evatt’s side begin the defence of their trophy on Tuesday, September 5, with a home game against Salford City (kick-off 7.45pm).
Manchester United’s Under-21s visit the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Tuesday, September 26 (7.45pm), having also played against the Whites in last year’s competition.
If Wanderers progress to the third round of the Carabao Cup, this game will be moved to Tuesday, October 10.
And Group E is concluded with a visit to Stockport County on Tuesday, November 14 (7.30pm).
Wanderers won the competition – then called the Papa Johns Trophy – with a 4-0 win against Plymouth Argyle in April, their first domestic cup silverware since 1989.
Tickets for all EFL Trophy group games will cost £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, with full purchase details announced in due course.
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