Barnsley plotting Bolton Wanderers transfer raid already | OneFootball

Barnsley are keen to sign Bolton Wanderers defender Will Forrester in January, having missed out on deadline day.

Barnsley FC are already looking ahead to the January transfer window, and are keen to get a deal for Bolton Wanderers centre-back Will Forrester over the line, having failed to agree a deal for him on deadline day last week.

With the transfer window coming to a conclusion last Monday, there were many deals that were in the pipeline which ended up falling through, and unfortunately, it seems Barnsley were no exception to the volatile nature of the final day of the window.

According to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, the Tykes saw a deadline day swoop for Bolton's Forrester fall through, as the two clubs failed to agree a permanent move.

However, Nixon has stated that the Yorkshire club haven't given up on their defensive target, and will pursue a move for the 24-year-old when the transfer window reopens in January.

Barnsley instead made a move to sign Derby County youngster Jake Rooney on loan to bridge the gap to January, where they will reportedly revisit a deal to sign Forrester.

Barnsley keen on Bolton Wanderers' Will Forrester after failed deadline day swoop

It's been a difficult start to the season for Forrester, who is yet to feature for Bolton in any competition, having injured his hamstring in April, and missing out on Wanderers' pre-season campaign.

The defender had previously been linked with a move to Stockport County earlier in the summer, as the Hatters braced to lose Ethan Pye, which ultimately never happened, keeping Forrester at Bolton.

However, it's been revealed by Nixon that the 24-year-old did have an option to get out on the table on deadline day, as Barnsley came calling to try and bring him to Oakwell in a permanent swoop.

Despite this, the two clubs reportedly couldn't agree on a permanent sale, which saw the move fall through, and Forrester left stuck at Bolton until January at the very earliest.

Fortunately, Nixon has also suggested that the option of a move to Yorkshire may still be on the cards in the next transfer window, as the Tykes remain keen on bringing him in.

The former Port Vale star has seen consistent match minutes hard to come by in recent years with the Trotters, and an opportunity to go and kick on elsewhere could be the best move for all parties.

Will Forrester will be keen for January move if Bolton minutes dwindle

Before Forrester injured his hamstring last season, he'd rediscovered some of his best form under new head coach Steven Schumacher, but missed all of Bolton's pre-season games and domestic fixtures thus far.

With plenty of new signings coming through the door at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, it could take some time for the 24-year-old to break back into the fold, as Chris Forino, George Johnston, and Richard Taylor all sit ahead of him in the pecking order.

This likely means if minutes are hard to come by in the first half of the season, Forrester could be keen to move elsewhere, where he will pick up consistent minutes, and further his development.

With Barnsley reportedly still keen on bringing the centre-back to Oakwell, the move may well hinge on what his involvement looks like in the next four months, with Bolton less likely to sell if he becomes a key part of the squad.