Bolton Wanderers suffer double blow - Steven Schumacher can't be happy | OneFootball

Steven Schumacher will be furious after Bolton Wanderers missed out on key targets Max Dean and Johnny Kenny on deadline day.

It is fair to say it was a disappointing end to the summer transfer window for Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton are back in the Championship for the first time in seven years after winning promotion from League One last season, but head coach Steven Schumacher's attempts to make some final additions to his squad for the upcoming campaign on deadline day did not go to plan.

Steven Schumacher dealt double Bolton Wanderers transfer setback

Action Images

It was a busy summer transfer window for Bolton with 13 new signings arriving at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, including the likes of Luca Stephenson, Gaizka Larrazabal, Ben Davies, Akin Famewo, Lewis Brunt, Kyliane Dong, Samuel Iling-Junior and Ryan Hardie.

The Trotters were particularly active in the latter part of the window, with Gavin Bazunu, Atsuki Ito, Jayden Nelson and Theo Bair all arriving in the days prior to the deadline, but the Lancashire outfit would have been hoping for further additions.

It seems Wanderers had been keen to bolster their forward line, and KAA Gent's Max Dean and Celtic's Johnny Kenny were two of the strikers consistently linked with the club throughout the summer.

However, despite lengthy pursuits of the pair, Bolton were unable to get deals over the line for Dean and Kenny before the window slammed shut on Tuesday night, and the eventual destination of the latter will cause particular anger among Trotters supporters.

Bolton Wanderers miss out on Max Dean and Johnny Kenny on dramatic deadline day

Action Images

Bolton suffered late heartbreak on Tuesday night as they were beaten 3-2 by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, with Romelle Donovan's 93rd-minute strike sealing victory for the Blades, and Schumacher's mood would not have been improved by the transfer developments.

Kenny spent the second half of last season on loan with the Trotters, and he scored six goals and provided three assists in 14 appearances before his campaign was cut short due to injury.

Despite the injury issues he experienced during his time in Lancashire, Wanderers were keen to bring Kenny back to the Toughsheet Community Stadium this summer, and Celtic were known to be open to offers for the 23-year-old after completing the signing of Kasper Hogh from Bodo/Glimt.

However, Bolton ultimately missed out on the signing of Kenny, and to add insult to injury, the Republic of Ireland international instead joined local rivals Preston North End for a fee of £3 million.

Former Leeds United youngster Dean, who had scored 20 goals in 56 appearances for Gent since arriving from MK Dons in the summer of 2024, was another striker on the Trotters' radar for much of the summer, but the deal collapsed after the two clubs failed to reach an agreement over a sell-on clause.

Steven Schumacher will be frustrated by Max Dean, Johnny Kenny transfer twists at Bolton Wanderers

Action Images

Missing out on one of your top transfer targets is frustrating enough, but Schumacher will surely be disgruntled that Bolton failed to secure the signings of both Dean and Kenny, particularly given it is such a crucial area of the pitch.

With neither Dean nor Kenny arriving on deadline day, it seems the Trotters will rely largely on Sam Dalby to provide the goals this season, and the 26-year-old has made a strong start to the campaign, netting twice in the opening four league games.

Schumacher has also reunited with Ryan Hardie, who played a key role in his Plymouth Argyle side that won the League One title in the 2022-23 season, and he will be keen to help the Scotsman rediscover his form after a difficult move to Wrexham and an underwhelming loan spell at Huddersfield Town.

While he may not have been as high on their wanted list as Dean and Kenny, Wanderers will also be relieved to have signed one striker on deadline day in Bair, who scored 10 goals in 31 appearances during a loan spell at Swiss top flight side Lausanne-Sport last season.

However, it is hard to be confident that Dalby, Hardie or Bair will get on the scoresheet consistently in the Championship, and without the quality of last season's star loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry, whose individual brilliance helped to mask some of Bolton's wastefulness in front of goal at times last season, the inability to sign Dean and Kenny could prove costly.

The fact that Kenny has joined near neighbours Preston will sting for Trotters supporters, but given that North End look set to be in a battle for survival after losing all of their first four games of the season, Wanderers may have inadvertently strengthened one of their potential relegation rivals.

It is clear from the early stages of the season that Bolton have more than enough talent in their squad to be competitive in the Championship, but there are big question marks over whether they have sufficient firepower up front, and Schumacher will be hoping that the club do not live to regret the unsuccessful attempts to land Dean and Kenny.