Leyton Orient in talks to finalise Bolton Wanderers transfer | OneFootball

Will Forrester's future has become the subject of speculation this January

Leyton Orient are in talks with Bolton Wanderers for the signing of Will Forrester this January.

According to Alan Nixon, the League One side have reached an agreement to sign the defender following his drop down the pecking order of Steven Schumacher’s side.

The 24-year-old has not yet featured for the Whites in the league so far this season, leading to speculation surrounding his future.

Forrester’s last appearance for the club came in a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers on 5 April last year, but a hamstring injury meant he was substituted after just 16 minutes.

While he has featured in the EFL Trophy this campaign for Bolton, he has yet to break back into Schumacher’s plans in the third tier.

Leyton Orient eye Will Forrester transfer

It is believed that Leyton Orient are in talks with Bolton to find a deal that can bring Forrester to the club this month.

While no agreement has yet been reached, the O’s are hopeful of securing a move for the centre-back, who has fallen out of favour since returning to fitness.

Forrester joined Bolton in the 2023 summer transfer window, and has made a total of 37 appearances in League One for the club in that time.

However, the centre-back’s contract is set to expire at the end of this campaign, which would open the door for him to find a move elsewhere as a free agent in the summer.

As a consequence, it’s understood that Bolton are willing to listen to offers amid this interest from Leyton Orient.

The London outfit are keen to bring in Forrester this month instead of waiting for potential free agency, with the two sides having until 2 February to conclude a possible deal.

Schumacher’s side are fifth in the table, while Richie Wellens’ team are 20th, with 11 points separating them.

Will Forrester sale in January would work for all parties

Forrester is clearly not part of Schumacher’s immediate plans, so it would be surprising if he intended to renew his Bolton contract.

With that deal expiring in the summer, it’d make sense for the Whites to look to cash in now, instead of losing him for nothing.

Given Leyton Orient are not an immediate threat in the promotion battle this season, this is a sale that makes a lot of sense for all parties.

If Bolton can get a good fee, then they should be happy to let the player go and potentially use that money to invest in the first team squad.