Bolton Wanderers handed Johnny Kenny boost as Celtic transfer news changes situation | OneFootball

Bolton want to bring Johnny Kenny back to the Toughsheet Stadium following his strong loan spell last season

Bolton Wanderers played the loan market to perfection in their promotion campaign from League One last season, and are hoping to retain one of those loanees heading into the second tier this summer.

Amario Cozier-Duberry was the standout performer at the Toughsheet Stadium last year, with the Brighton and Hove Albion youngster netting eight and assisting 10 in just 30 League One starts, while also scoring the only goal against Bradford City in their play-off semi-final first leg.

But Mason Burstow's electric form in front of goal in the early stages helped kickstart that promotion push, and Ibrahim Cissoko was a big contributor in the run-in and in the play-offs on the left.

One man who really changed things for the Trotters, though, was Johnny Kenny, who arrived from Celtic in January. Steven Schumacher's side lost just two of the 16 League One games he appeared in, as he netted six and assisted three, five of which came consecutively ahead of the final day.

Unfortunately, on that final day, he suffered a knee ligament injury which kept him out for the play-offs, and he has still yet to return to pre-season training for Celtic due to that. There's hope at Bolton, though, that once he is fit enough to return, he'll be returning to the Toughsheet Stadium.

Bolton Wanderers keen on Johnny Kenny return — Celtic listening to offers after Kasper Hogh deal is completed

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Despite six goals in 22 games in the opening half of the campaign at Celtic Park, and a further six in 14 League One outings, Martin O'Neill's side are looking away from Kenny for a new striker this summer.

They've agreed a club-record £11 million fee with Bodo/Glimt for Kasper Hogh, who made headlines after netting a brace against Manchester City and scoring against Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan to help the Norwegian minnows reach the UEFA Champions League last 16.

Once that move is complete, Celtic will be open to listening to offers for Kenny and, according to Anthony Joseph, Bolton are keen on bringing the 23-year-old back to the Toughsheet Stadium.

Kenny very quickly became a fan favourite for Steven Schumacher's side last season, and played a key role as the Trotters put a poor Christmas and New Year period behind them to kick on and secure their place in the play-offs.

With Bolton now back in the Championship for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign, work is being done to bring in personnel to help keep them there. Steven Schumacher said that there was still more to come following their 0-0 draw with Everton in pre-season, and a new starting striker will definitely be on the cards.

Kenny is not only an example of a second-tier-ready player who could help bolster the League One play-off winner's survival chances, but at 23, he has the potential to make Bolton money in the future, so it seems a no-brainer if they can make it happen.

How Bolton Wanderers fans have reacted to fresh Jonny Kenny update

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The feeling online amongst Celtic fans is that they'd happily drive Kenny away from Celtic Park themselves, whereas Bolton fans are imploring that the 23-year-old returns to a club he wasted no time in becoming loved at last season.

"Seeing Kenny rinsed by Celtic fans is so heartbreaking. They don’t deserve him. I know he has a point to prove, but I can’t understand why you’d stay at a Scottish top-division club who hate you over an English second-division club who love you. Come home, Johnny," one Bolton fan said towards the end of last week.

And in response to Anthony Joseph's report on X, Trotters fans gathered in the replies to relay that sentiment that the 23-year-old should "come home" to Bolton.

"Come on home, Kenny, where you're appreciated," one fan said. Another fan simply posted a gif of a man looking longingly out of a window with the caption, "come home." "COME HOMEEEE JONNYY," another pleaded.

The feeling, evidently, is mutual amongst all Bolton fans. If it can be done, they want Kenny to continue his career at the Toughsheet Stadium.

And if he can put together more performances like the ones he exhibited in the second half of last season, the odds of the Trotters avoiding an immediate drop back down to League One will increase massively.