"If you're Bolton Wanderers and Steven Schumacher" - Exclusive: Sky pundit reacts to Cozier-Duberry, Sheffield United transfer talk | OneFootball

Amario Cozier-Duberry's performances for Bolton has already led to transfer discourse

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Don Goodman believes that Bolton Wanderers shouldn't have any short-term worries over the future of Amario Cozier-Duberry, with transfer discourse already surrounding the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee.

The Whites were unsurprisingly tipped to challenge for promotion in League One this season in what is Steven Schumacher's first full campaign in charge of the Greater Manchester club following his appointment in January.

The 41-year-old comes with previous success at third-tier level having built on the pre-established momentum built by former colleague Ryan Lowe at Plymouth Argyle, eventually guiding the Green Army to the League One title in the 2022/23 campaign before spells in the Championship at Home Park and a short stint in charge of Stoke City.

Bolton had previously been among the division's strongest performers in the final two full campaigns of Ian Evatt's reign, before an inconsistent campaign last time out led to an extremely underwhelming eighth-place finish, ending the season 10 points behind Leyton Orient who narrowly made the play-off places.

As a result, Schumacher has overseen a major squad reshuffle at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, with long-serving and high-profile players such as Gethin Jones, Ricardo Santos, Nathan Baxter and Aaron Collins leaving the club to make way for an influx of new signings.

It's fair to say that a handful of those have hit the ground running despite Wanderers' draw-heavy start to the campaign, with Cozier-Duberry's future post-January immediately up in the air despite the recent closure of the summer transfer window.

Don Goodman's verdict on Bolton Wanderers, Amario Cozier-Duberry predicament amid Brighton, Sheffield United transfer talk

After previously featuring on loan with second-tier Blackburn Rovers, during which he scored once in just 22 appearances, the former Arsenal man dropped into League One for the first time this season, and has already showcased his talent and future potential as a key performer for Schumacher in the opening eight encounters.

Yet, it remains to be seen if the 20-year-old remains in the North West for the entire season as, less than 24 hours after his spectacular last-gasp equaliser away to Leyton Orient on Saturday, a report from Alan Nixon claimed that Sheffield United are in the market for a right-sided winger, and that either a loan or permanent move could be in the offing.

This would see him recalled initially by the Seagulls if such developments came to fruition. However, Goodman has stated that Bolton would largely be powerless in the situation, and that Schumacher and supporters should turn their immediate attention as to how he can impact the upcoming three-and-a-half months for the Trotters.

"Cozier-Dubery has got off to a brilliant start at Bolton Wanderers this season," the pundit exclusively told Football League World. "Two goals and two assists, he's excellent.

"In terms of it being a major blow, Brighton couldn't recall him and send him out to Sheffield United before January 1st when the transfer window opens.

"I guess, in the meantime, if you're Bolton Wanderers and Steven Schumacher, you should be enjoying the fact you've got this talented player who is really making a difference and enhancing your teams' potential, and then worry about a recall as and when that time comes," Goodman claimed.

"But, there's no doubt about it, he's got off to a brilliant start."

Amario Cozier-Duberry, Sheffield United talk could change between now and January

Whilst Cozier-Duberry's main focus will be enhancing his development and Bolton's chances of promotion, it isn't perhaps a given that the Blades will make a strong move for his services in January.

Nixon's aforementioned report coincided with the sacking of Ruben Selles, with Chris Wilder subsequently returning to Bramall Lane for a third time, with ownership group, COH Sports, adopting a new, AI-based transfer strategy.

As such, with the numbers the England Under-20 international is putting up right now, it's perhaps no surprise that he has emerged as a potential candidate to fill a void among the squad. However, the likelihood is that other targets will come to the fore, whilst there has also been talk of a reshuffle among the Bramall Lane hierarchy.