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FLW's Bolton Fan Pundit believes John McAtee could leave the club this summer amid reported interest.

Bolton Wanderers have started life back in the Championship well, defeating Lancashire rivals Preston North End by two goals to one on the opening weekend of the campaign.

The Trotters, who gained promotion back to the second-tier via the League One play-offs in March, started fast against The Lilywhites, racing into a 2-0 lead inside 25 minutes and there is a feeling it could have been more before Preston began to claw their way back late on.

Central to their early rampage was John McAtee, who started in the ‘number ten’ position in behind Sam Dalby, with key man Ruben Rodrigues missing through injury.

McAtee’s half-volley forced Daniel Iversen to only parry out as far as Dalby, who scored on the rebound, before he let Thierry Gale free on the counter-attack to add Bolton’s second.

Despite an impressive performance from the former Barnsley and Luton Town man, it has been suggested that Charlton Athletic, Cardiff City, Lincoln City and Sheffield Wednesday are interested in signing him this summer.

Bolton departure may beckon for John McAtee

Soccer Football - League One - Play Off - Semi Final - Second Leg - Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley - Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton, Britain - May 7, 2024 Bolton Wanderers' Ricardo Almeida Santos in action with Barnsley's John Mcatee Action Images/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR

John McAtee has endured a generally tough time of it at Bolton since he arrived for an undisclosed fee from Luton in the summer of 2024, but the last four or five months has presented a new, more confident side to him.

Having performed well in the play-offs, Bolton’s lack of signings in his position gave McAtee the opportunity to play in his preferred attacking midfield role at the weekend – and it is one in which he thrived in.

However, his departure this summer always seemed likely and, as FLW’s Bolton Fan Pundit Liam O’Meara explains, that still seems possible despite beginning the season well.

Liam says: “I can see him leaving.

“I think he is very much a part of the team plan now because Bolton haven’t necessarily added the players that they want to at the top end of the pitch.

“I don’t think there is space for him and (Joel) Randall to stay. I think both will be able to go when they are replaced.

“I think the key thing is, when Bolton bring in someone who can play in that position, particularly with Ruben Rodrigues being injured, they will look to move him on.

“I think Bolton will look to recuperate what they spent for him which was rumoured to be around the £1m, particularly if it is to a Championship club – I’d be very surprised if we entertained less than that for him.

“He’s done very well, McAtee. He’s come into the start of this season in very good shape and looks like he really wants to give it a go; I just think that Bolton are probably going to want to upgrade in that position.”

The enigmatic John McAtee at Bolton

Having given Bolton a hard time of it in their 2023-24 play-off semi-final against Barnsley, John McAtee was something of a marquee signing for Ian Evatt in the summer of 2024.

His time at Wanderers began slowly, though, and the eventual departure of Evatt after a tough six months in January 2025 coincided with McAtee underwhelming in a Bolton shirt.

Steven Schumacher came in and deployed McAtee as a central striker, where he showed his best goal scoring form for The Whites, even finishing the season in double figures for goals.

Back on the periphery of things last year, a return to Barnsley appeared on the cards in August as he struggled to make Schumacher’s match day squad in League One.

This summer was supposed to see McAtee leave but some further glimpses of quality and ability to affect key games in the play-offs, with a crucial pass to release Gale for Bolton’s decisive goal in their semi-final second-leg away at Bradford City before an assist for Dalby in the play-off final at Wembley against Stockport County, has seen him stick around.

In good shape after pre-season, McAtee put in his best all-round performance for Bolton against Preston – but it could well be a good thing for both parties as he gets a move for regular minutes, which may again dry up as the season goes on at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, while also allowing Bolton to find a new home for their frustrating but endearing Walkden-born attacker.