Bolton Wanderers' transfer reaction - it's 'exactly the type of signing' needed | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers have been praised for their pursuit of Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, as the Trotters close in on his signing.

After an extended period of time outside of the top two divisions in English football, Bolton Wanderers are back to a level where they will believe they belong – ready to potentially kick on further.

Having failed in a couple of play-off campaigns in recent years, Bolton finally got themselves over the line this season, eventually hammering Stockport County by four goals to one in the League One play-off final.

The Trotters, in their first full season under the management of Steven Schumacher, experienced a topsy turvy campaign with some good underlying numbers, undermined by a lack of fortune and a lack of efficiency in both boxes.

That would suggest the coaching is good and the game plans generally work, but a higher level of quality is required across the park – and the club have wasted no time in what is expected to be an extremely busy summer transfer window.

Bolton praised for lining up the signing of David Watson

One of the first pieces of business that looks set to be completed already is the signing of Kilmarnock and Scotland U21 international midfielder David Watson.

The versatile midfielder, who is a creator primarily but also played deeper and even out-wide on occasion, was the subject of interest from Bolton in January, as well as from lots of clubs around Europe, according to the Daily Record.

The media outlet has suggested, though, that Bolton have won the race to sign Watson and FLW’s Bolton Fan Pundit Liam O’Meara believes it is a good start to the Whites’ summer.

Liam says: “I think it is a very good signing by Bolton – someone that they have been tracking for quite some time.

“The idea of a midfielder that can drive forwards, score what look like high-quality goals, as well as being combative and, at his age of 21 years old, is exactly the type of signing that Bolton should be aiming to make.

“In terms of what it means for the rest of the midfielders, I think that the competition there is absolutely healthy.

“There’s quite a few midfielders there that are not proven at Championship level. I’m sure they’d love to give it a go, so we’re going in there, in my view, not weak as such, but I would like a bit more higher level experience so the fact that he has played in the SPFL is a benefit.

“I’m not sure if that necessarily translates to a better level than the Championship, once you take the Glasgow two out of it, but it comes with an increase in pressure.

“I would still probably like another Championship or Premier League-type player in that midfield as well because I think we are perhaps lacking a bit of guile, a Barry Bannan type of player could be quite useful for us.”

David Watson begins a busy summer for Bolton

With the League One play-off final and Bolton’s celebrations only ending just a couple of days ago, it has been a frantic start for the club as they seek to get things wrapped up for next season.

The seeming impending arrival of the Scotsman comes amid the club also confirming that three key players from those play-offs have been let go with their contracts not being renewed.

George Johnston, the man who captained Wanderers at Wembley Stadium in the absence of the injured Eoin Toal, is due to depart alongside Jordi Osei-Tutu, who was excellent throughout their final third or so of the campaign, as well as Kyle Dempsey – who has been with the club for four and a half years. Carlos Mendes Gomes was a fourth man released by the club, too.

As well as that, the club thanked the services of their seven loan players: Amario Cozier-Duberry, Ibrahim Cissoko, Marcus Forss, Mason Burstow, Johnny Kenny, Rob Apter and Corey Blackett-Taylor, with no indication given that any of them would or could be staying, with no talks suggested, yet anyway.

Szabolcs Schon, who spent the season out on loan with eventual Hungarian champions Gyori, has also departed, signing for the Hungarians for an undisclosed fee.

That means, within days of achieving their long awaited and battled for promotion, Schumacher’s squad has lost ten players from within it, as well as two others who had begun the season in the squad before heading out on loan.