Bolton Wanderers: Steven Schumacher urged to show patience over potential £1.2m transfer | OneFootball

FLW's Bolton fan pundit has given his verdict on Ibrahim Cissoko's long-term future at the club

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…

Ibrahim Cissoko made the switch from Toulouse to Bolton Wanderers in the summer transfer window, where he has been looking to get his career back on track after an up and down 2024-25 season with Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday.

The winger arrived at the League One side on loan with a reported option to make the move permanent, with a rumoured fee of £1.2 million in the deal.

The 22-year-old has been a regular presence in Steven Schumacher’s matchday squads so far this season, playing 12 times from the Whites’ opening 17 league fixtures, although only five of those have been starts.

It remains to be seen whether Bolton will seek a permanent deal for the Dutchman, who spent last season on loan with both Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship - he had more success at Home Park than Hillsborough.

However, Cissoko has revealed that he wants to remain with Bolton on a long-term basis if a deal can be done, but that will likely not be addressed until January.

Bolton Wanderers urged for patience when it comes to Ibrahim Cissoko transfer decision

When asked about Cissoko potentially staying with the team permanently, FLW’s Bolton fan pundit Liam O’Meara claimed that it is a positive sign for the feeling around the squad that he wants to stay despite not being a consistent presence in the starting lineup.

However, he believes that any decision on his future should wait until nearer the end of the season, particularly until the Whites’ future is made clearer given their pursuit of promotion to the Championship this term.

“It’s really good to see that Ibrahim Cissoko is interested in staying at Bolton beyond this season,” O’Meara told Football League World.

“I think he hasn’t always started games, he has featured in most, he is a frequently-used sub, and has started in some games, he’s very much in the team pond.

“But the fact that he wants to stay beyond this season is a good sign regarding how the team is, and the feeling around the dressing room.

“Because that’s someone who is not playing every week wanting to prove himself so Bolton take up the option and sign him permanently in the summer.

“I don’t think Bolton should be making any decision on anyone until the summer, see what the division is and take a fuller view on it, but it could only be a good thing that he wants to stay.”

Bolton missed out on a play-off place in League One last season with an eighth place finish in the table, coming 10 points behind Leyton Orient, who ended up in sixth.

Schumacher will be hoping to guide the team back to the Championship for the first time since 2019, after they missed out on promotion two seasons ago when Oxford United won 2-0 in the League One play-off final against the Trotters.

Ibrahim Cissoko deal could make sense if Bolton Wanderers and Steven Schumacher earn promotion

Cissoko is proving a valuable member of the first-team squad at Bolton so far this season, even if he’s been unable to contribute a goal or assist in the league just yet.

If the Greater Manchester outfit can earn promotion to the Championship, then perhaps a permanent move could make a lot of sense, especially as the Dutchman has second tier experience already.

The left-winger had a decent impact for Plymouth last season, even if his time at Sheffield Wednesday didn't go that well, and he already has seemingly integrated well into the Bolton squad, so that continuity has the potential to be quite positive.

That the player himself is so keen on staying is also a great vote of confidence in Schumacher and what he’s trying to build at Bolton - Cissoko needs to add some more goals and assists though to really put down a marker and make a deal happen.