Bolton Wanderers: Steven Schumacher backed over transfer decision involving Luton Town - but he's not "unsellable" | OneFootball

FLW's Bolton Wanderers fan pundit felt that it would have been a shock if a move for Aaron Morley was accepted on deadline day

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Bolton Wanderers received deadline day transfer bids for midfielder Aaron Morley from fellow League One sides, Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers, but they were both snubbed.

The Bolton News reported that, whilst the bids were said to be in the region of £500,000, Bolton and Morley weren't interested in sanctioning the move.

Steven Schumacher has an extensive list of players he can rely on in the centre of the park, but so far this season, he has shown flexibility in his ability to rotate between two of Morley, Xavi Simons, Ethan Erhahon and Josh Sheehan.

Evidently, the Bolton boss likes to have that depth available to him, and because of this, Football League World's Trotters' fan pundit, Liam O'Meara, feels that a deal on deadline day, where there would be little scope for a replacement to be signed in the remaining time, would have been a strange one to make.

Bolton Wanderers fan pundit reacts to Aaron Morley, Luton Town, and Wycombe Wanderers links

With Morley spending the first half of last season out on loan at Wycombe, and being in and out of the Bolton side to open this campaign, you wouldn't be forgiven for feeling that Morley is an expendable part of the Trotters' squad.

However, Steven Schumacher clearly likes him as a squad option and believes that he, and the rest of his midfield pack, can easily slot into the starting eleven when needed.

"It seems like Schumacher wants four or five central midfielders to play in those pivot roles, and likes to rotate them frequently," O'Meara told Football League World.

"Sometimes it's even both off, both on at half-time - it makes lineups hard to predict!"

"So, with that in mind, a deadline day bid without the chance to replace that would have made it difficult for both clubs to get things over the line."

Indeed, Schumacher rejected the bids straight away as they were coming in from their League One rivals, indicating that there was no way that he was prepared to leave the side short-handed in midfield.

Morley started in the league for the first time since Bolton's opening day defeat to Stockport County in the final game before the window closed against Blackpool, and again the following game against AFC Wimbledon, which suggests that the 25-year-old has a big role to play in Schumacher's side this season.

"I don't think Morley is unsellable, and I think Bolton would sell at a good price," O'Meara continued.

"But to do it on deadline day without the opportunity to bring someone in?

"I'd have been very surprised to see that happen, if I'm honest."

Squad depth the key for Bolton Wanderers and Steven Schumacher this season

Bolton are desperate to return to the League One play-offs this season after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign.

It seems Steven Schumacher is prioritising making sure that he has a squad capable of maintaining their intensity throughout a long 46-game campaign, and to do so, the Trotters need sufficient squad depth, especially in midfield.

When Plymouth Argyle were promoted under Schumacher in the 2022/23 League One campaign, the Pilgrims had several bodies to choose from in midfield, such as Jordan Houghton, Adam Randell, Matt Butcher, Danny Mayor and even more.

Therefore, the Bolton boss seems to be taking that aspect of his old job into the one at the Toughsheet Stadium. Quality squad depth is usually the key to a high finish in League One, and Steven Schumacher wasn't ready to jeopardise that by accepting any deadline day bids for his midfielders.