Steven Schumacher issues fresh Bolton Wanderers transfer update | OneFootball

Bolton boss Steven Schumacher wants two strikers, two wingers and more attackers this month

The summer transfer window closes in less than a month, and head coaches across the Championship are still looking to bolster their squads while managing the opening stages of the league campaign.

Bolton Wanderers concluded their pre-season with a 1-0 win over Dutch second-tier outfit NAC Breda at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Ruben Rodrigues, who began his career in the Netherlands before his 2020 switch to Notts County, scored the only goal to separate the two sides.

It was a strong defensive performance from the Trotters, who handed a debut to right-back Gaizka Larrazabal and welcomed back captain Eoin Toal following a summer recovering from the hamstring injury he sustained in the play-offs against Bradford City.

Going forward, though, Bolton are still looking light on options, and Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher relayed his desire to add plenty more at the top end of the pitch in the coming month.

Bolton Wanderers have lacked attacking additions so far this summer

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The six signings that Bolton have made this summer ultimately rank them nearer the top of the Championship when it comes to incomings.

However, with how many players the Trotters lost at the end of last season, they're arguably heading into the new campaign lighter than they were in late May, especially at the top end of the pitch.

Amario Cozier-Dubbery, Johnny Kenny, Ibrahim Cissoko, Mason Burstow, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Rob Apter and Marcus Forss, despite varying impact, were all forward players on loan at the Toughsheet Stadium last season.

So far, the only attacking addition confirmed through the door is Kyliane Dong, who joined on loan from Augsburg, while Forss is currently training with the club following his release from Middlesbrough and was named in the squad on Saturday against NAC Breda.

They join last year's player of the season, Sam Dalby, John McAtee, Thierry Gale and young Charlie Warren as attacking options currently at the club ahead of next weekend's EFL Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

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Bolton boss Steven Schumacher was pleased with the defensive display in his side's 1-0 win over NAC Breda, and liked what he saw when it came to their organisation.

He did admit to the Bolton News that he is trying to bring in more options at the top end of the pitch to improve his side's clinical nature, but right now, he has to focus on what he has right now while work is done behind the scenes.

"We still need to bring people in," he said. "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.

"We were against a team who we knew would have spells of possession, good movement, good rotation, players all over the pitch in different areas. We were really well-organised to limit them to not many big chances.

"In general, we've been organised from a defensive standpoint, and we just need to be a bit more clinical at the top end because the game could have been over at half-time.

"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."

With less than a month remaining in the transfer window, it promises to be a very busy time for the Trotters, but if Steven Schumacher can get who he needs in the door, it could be an equally exciting month for the newly-promoted side.

Bolton Wanderers fans still hope Amario Cozier-Duberry and Johnny Kenny can return this summer

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There's still a lot of optimism amongst the Bolton fanbase about the potential return of Cozier-Duberry and Kenny, who played a major role in their promotion last year — Kenny from January onwards.

Both returned to Brighton and Hove Albion and Celtic, respectively, and both aren't set to be in first-team plans this season, especially the Irish striker, who returns further down the pecking order after the Hoops signed Kasper Hogh for a club record fee.

The omission of the number nine and 19 shirts from the 2026/27 squad numbers list at the Toughsheet Stadium last week, the numbers Kenny and Cozier-Duberry wore last season, has stoked that hope, more so about the former Brighton loanee, as a new number nine was always set to arrive this summer.

Either way, with two strikers and two wingers on Steven Schumacher's wishlist this month, plus their status as fan favourites after last season, Bolton fans would love nothing more than for those two former loanees to be one of the striker or winger options this summer.