Triple Bolton Wanderers transfer deal would hand Steven Schumacher serious boost | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers are chasing three players that could transform Steven Schumacher's squad for next season.

Heading into pre-season, Bolton Wanderers are embarking upon a new era with the first full season of the Steven Schumacher era, after what was a disappointing end to the 2024/25 campaign.

The Trotters managed to win just two of their final 11 games in League One to slip out of the top six and the play-off places and down into eighth, ten points adrift of those top six spots.

Now, as they rebuild and restructure with a new Sporting Director, Fergal Harkin, a new Head of Recruitment, Jimmy Dickinson, and a parting of ways with scouting firm Ludonautics, Wanderers are seeking for reinforcements.

Schumacher has discussed the desire to recruit for a different shape next season, and he has also been keen to play down talk of a major overhaul or major spending, with the former Plymouth Argyle boss saying he could get promotion on a small budget, whilst also saying to fans that it may difficult to completely revamp the squad due to the amount of players still under contract.

Despite that, there has still been a fair bit of change at the Toughsheet Community Stadium this summer and it could well be that there will be more, too, as Schumacher gets his way in terms of outgoings.

Former captain Ricardo Santos, vice-captain Gethin Jones and goalkeeper Nathan Baxter were among those released by the club this summer, whilst last year’s top scorer Aaron Collins has also been sold on to Milton Keynes Dons.

Wanderers have already made five additions to their squad and they have also been linked with many more, three of which being players who may require significant outlays with regards to transfer fees - and that would be a massive boost for Schumacher.

Ceesay, N’Mai and Kenny could transform Bolton’s squad

With Schumacher having seemingly played down talk of much spending, and Harkin saying that Wanderers looking abroad may be something that happens further down the line, it is therefore a fairly major surprise to see Wanderers find themselves linked with a move for a player from the Swedish Allsvenskan.

Gambia youth international defensive midfielder Jesper Ceesay, of Norrkoping, is said to be of interest to the Whites, and it has been reported that they are ‘highly likely’ to sign him.

It has also been reported that Bolton have had a £500,000 bid for Celtic attacker Johnny Kenny turned down by the Bhoys, with the Scottish champions holding out for £1 million, according to Alan Nixon, via his Patreon.

Again, Wanderers already having gone up to half a million is somewhat a surprise and, with the expectation being that they do go back in for Kenny, it is another statement of intent by the club.

As for N’Mai, it is yet another statement of intent to be interested in the Dutchman, with Championship clubs Middlesbrough and Preston North End also said to be interested in the Salford City winger.

It has been suggested that Bolton have already had a bid rejected for N’Mai by local rivals Salford, but Bolton remain interested in the 21-year-old attacker.

Surprising level of ambition from Bolton

As they head into what is a fifth successive season in League One, the pressure to finally get promoted back to the Championship is mighty and that is what Schumacher has been brought in to achieve.

However, balancing against that, is the fact that Wanderers were not expected to spend too much or be able to do too much in the transfer window, despite the need for something of a shake-up.

Instead, it appears as though a shake-up is happening with several fundamental players from recent seasons having already departed, and more first-teamers also expected to be on their way.

For example, Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Luke Southwood is expected to join Bristol Rovers, and the amount of credible links in terms of incomings is quite exciting and encouraging for Bolton fans.