Bolton Wanderers see £1m bid rejected for ex-Leeds player - Millwall also keen | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers have seen a bid worth around £1 million rejected for Millwall target Max Dean by KAA Gent

Bolton Wanderers are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements this summer with the Championship campaign set to get underway in less than two weeks, as the Trotters have seen a seven-figure bid rejected for a striker currently plying his trade in Belgium.

Bolton has seen a bid worth around £1 million rejected for KAA Gent striker Max Dean, according to Pete O'Rourke via X, with Steven Schumacher's side continuing their hunt for a new centre-forward following their return to the second tier.

The side from Greater Manchester have made several additions this summer, but a new star striker has so far evaded them, something they are looking to remedy with a swoop for the 22-year-old.

However, having seen their first bid for the ex-Leeds United player knocked back by the Belgian side, their task in obtaining the Englishman's signature this summer appears far from straightforward.

Bolton Wanderers see their first bid for KAA Gent striker Max Dean knocked back amid Millwall interest

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It was exclusively reported by Football League World last week that Championship side Millwall had registered an interest in Dean, with the Lions looking to add another option to their forward line alongside Mihailo Ivanovic and Josh Coburn.

Macaulay Langstaff's departure left a gap that Alex Neil needs to fill, and Dean had emerged as an option for the South Bermondsey side.

However, it appears as though Millwall have found their man in the form of Scottish striker Lyndon Dykes, leaving the door open for Bolton to swoop in for Dean.

It remains to be seen at this stage whether the Trotters will return with an improved bid after their initial offer has been knocked back, but with Millwall seemingly having pursued other targets in the form of Dykes, this will be a big boost to Schumacher's side.

Max Dean would be a solid option for Bolton Wanderers this summer

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With Mason Burstow returning to Hull City from his loan spell prior to his recent switch to Sheffield Wednesday, Johnny Kenny returning to Celtic from his loan spell, whilst Marcus Forss is training with the club as a free agent following his release from Middlesbrough.

This has left just Sam Dalby as Bolton's only recognised senior centre-forward heading into their opening game of the season at home to Preston North End, something Schumacher will be more than keen to address in the next week or so.

Dean, 22, came through the youth system of Leeds United, but failed to make a single senior appearance for the West Yorkshire outfit before being allowed to join Milton Keynes Dons in January 2023 on a permanent basis.

In his year-and-a-half at the MKM Stadium, Dean scored 20 goals in just 43 appearances, prompting Belgian side Gent to part ways with £2 million in the summer of 2024 to bring him to Europe.

So far, Dean has netted 20 times in 56 appearances for Gent, which could have been a lot more had he not been out of action for the best part of nine months after suffering a knee injury on Boxing Day 2024.

The Englishman has two years remaining on his deal with the Belgian outfit, and whether they are willing to take a hit on the 22-year-old in a sale this summer remains to be seen, as Bolton may well have to increase their offer drastically to get this deal over the line.

Having played in the Europa Conference League, as well as featuring regularly in the Belgian top-flight when fit, Dean would be an excellent option for Schumacher's side, who must be willing to increase their terms for a deal this summer.

Steven Schumacher remains on the hunt for reinforcements at Bolton Wanderers this summer

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Bolton head coach Schumacher has not shied away from his desire for reinforcements in Greater Manchester this summer, particularly in attack.

The former Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City head coach has said: "We still need to bring people in. You can see areas of the squad where we're really short; we all know that, but we're trying our best. In the meantime, we've got to try and focus on controlling what we can and getting the team as organised as possible.

"I think we need two strikers, two wingers and still other areas in the attacking department that we want to try and strengthen if possible."

Dean has emerged as an option for the Trotters, but they will need to up their next offer if they are to stand a chance of bringing the Englishman back to his native country before the end of the window.