Bolton Wanderers rival Celtic for Southampton transfer | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers are making a surprise move for Southampton goalkeeper and Celtic target Gavin Bazunu

Bolton Wanderers are preparing to make a shock move for out-of-favour Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu this summer, with Steven Schumacher looking to provide Jack Bonham with some competition before the deadline.

According to Alan Nixon's Patreon, Bolton are making a shock move for Southampton goalkeeper Bazunu, with the 22-capped Irish international firmly out of favour at St Mary's.

Bazunu has had a difficult four-year spell on the English South Coast, as Bolton are prepared to offer the former Manchester City prospect a lifeline in the Championship.

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Bazunu, 24, has not had the career he was touted to have had when breaking through at Man City as a youth player, but with time on his side, he has been thrown a lifeline by Bolton.

The Irishman joined Southampton in the summer of 2022 for around £12 million from the Citizens after a strong loan spell in League One with Portsmouth, instantly becoming their number one in the Premier League.

However, two relegations in 97 appearances across all competitions later, Bazunu has firmly fallen out of favour on the South Coast, spending time out on loan with Standard Liege and Stoke City, and subsequently losing his place between the sticks to Aaron Ramsdale and then, more recently, Daniel Peretz.

Nixon reports that Bolton are looking to either loan him or bring him in on a permanent deal before the deadline. As though Southampton would ideally like to sell him and cut their losses, it remains an expensive deal, and the Trotters must get creative with their terms.

Scottish giants Celtic have been linked with a move for the Irishman earlier on in the window, as Martin O'Neil's side bottled a place in the Champions League after being thumped by Austrian side LASK in the second leg.

The Bhoys are looking for another option in goal for Viljami Sinisalo, and have been linked with Blackburn Rovers' Balazs Toth and Wolves' Sam Johnstone as well, though a late move for Bazunu cannot be ruled out.

Gavin Bazunu has had a difficult spell at Southampton as Bolton look to take advantage of the Irishman's untapped potential

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Bazunu's Southampton nightmare may finally be coming to an end this summer, with Bolton keen to bring the 24-year-old to Greater Manchester to compete with Bonham between the sticks.

Bonham played a crucial role in the Trotters' return to the Championship after seven years away, with a heroic performance against Bradford City in the League One play-offs, before making ten saves against Queens Park Rangers to keep a clean sheet and give Bolton a point on the road in their second game of the season.

Despite this, Schumacher is keen to offer the former Stoke City shot-stopper some competition in the net before the deadline, and has targeted Bazunu as a result.

Still only 24, there is time for Bazunu to turn his career around, and Bolton may well be the place he can do just that.

Steven Schumacher will be aiming for a strong end to the summer window at Bolton Wanderers amid Gavin Bazunu link

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With less than a week to go until the deadline, Bolton are looking to end the window strong.

The Trotters have been among the busiest clubs in the Championship across the past couple of months, bringing in as many as 11 new faces to the club, including the likes of Samuel Iling-Junior, David Watson, and Ryan Hardie.

Having defeated Preston North End in their opening Championship game and picking up a point on the road against QPR, it's been a brilliant start to the season for Schumacher's side, and the former Plymouth Argyle boss will be hoping to continue on this trajectory to end the window and beyond, as a move for Bazunu emerges as a real possibility.