Bolton Wanderers: Steven Schumacher must be on red alert at fresh Celtic transfer stance | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers should try to sign Johnny Kenny from Celtic on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window.

Steven Schumacher has been given the tools for a major overhaul of the squad at Bolton Wanderers in what is his first full season in charge at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

With the help of new Head of Recruitment, Jimmy Dickinson, who worked with Schumacher at Plymouth Argyle and new Sporting Director Fergal Harkin, previously of Standard Liege, Wanderers have transformed their squad this season.

After making 14 new signings last summer, the flagging Trotters re-energised their season with the arrival of seven more players in the January transfer window.

More or less coinciding with that infusion of talent in the winter, the Whites have enjoyed an impressive run of form, recently fighting back from 2-0 down to earn a point away at Rotherham United to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches.

Frustrating draws and that aforementioned dip in the middle of the campaign means that the very good pace set by Lincoln City and Cardiff City remains too good for them to consider themselves as realistic challengers for the top two and the automatic promotion spots, albeit they do still have the second-placed Bluebirds to take on in South Wales.

Profligacy in the final third remains an issue, but Wanderers are certainly scoring more goals, hitting two or more in seven of their last ten and in each of their last four – something that they had failed to do in 12 of their 15 previous matches before that influx of new signings and renewed effectiveness in attack.

One man that has been key to that himself with four direct goal involvements, including a point-saving brace of assists against the Millers the other day, is Celtic loanee Johnny Kenny – and Bolton should be ready to pounce on the former Shamrock Rovers man this summer.

Bolton Wanderers should ensure they sign Johnny Kenny on a permanent deal

Fresh reports have emerged that Celtic may well now be interested in getting rid of Johnny Kenny, who signed a new contract at Parkhead last summer, on a permanent deal.

The Irishman was a long-term target for Bolton in the summer and had a bid rejected for the versatile attacker, with Schumacher open about his desire to bring him in for a long time.

Having spent the January window focusing on other areas of the pitch, with two goalkeepers, a centre-back and three attackers for behind the striker brought in, Bolton were able to be patient and end their pursuit of Wrexham striker Ryan Hardie in order to finally capture their man Kenny.

Kenny has been criticised by Celtic supporters for his failure to put away some glaring opportunities – and he has been guilty of that with the Trotters, too, notably failing to put away a glorious one-on-one opportunity early on away at Reading in his first start in mid-February.

Regularly missing chances is a negative, of course, but regularly missing chances also indicates a very smart player that is getting himself into the positions for those chances – suggesting strong intelligence and a generally good all-round level of play, which he has shown in recent weeks.

Bolton were extremely patient in their pursuit of Kenny, eventually holding off the likes of German giants Schalke and Danish title challengers AGF, and they should ensure their perseverance gets further rewarded by signing the 22-year-old to a permanent contract in Lancashire.

Johnny Kenny would be a brilliant summer signing for Bolton Wanderers

As they head into the final month and a half or so of the campaign, Bolton are still unaware of what division they will be in next season – with the League One play-offs beckoning for a third season out of four.

Regardless of whether they are successful in that division, the likes of Schalke and AGF being interested in Kenny will give Bolton supporters peace of mind that he would also have been a useful addition in the Championship, too, let alone in League One – where his performances also suggest he would be a more than useful player at either level.

Perhaps his most eye-catching attribute, which was showcased on debut in a 1-1 draw against seeming champions-elect Lincoln City, is his directness and dribbling ability.

Using his pace to burst bast players, it can look a touch unorthodox, but the versatile attacker has a balance and, strangely for someone who does miss chances, a good level of technical ability to pose a real threat for defenders having to run back to their own goal; his assist for Sam Dalby’s opener in a 5-1 demolition of Exeter City a few weeks ago being a very good example of that.

Kenny has started well at Bolton, but there is also clear potential for him to deliver even more and Wanderers should endeavour to pinch him from Celtic this summer.