Exclusive: Bolton Wanderers join Wigan Athletic & Blackpool in race for 15-goal ex-Wrexham forward | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers have joined Wigan Athletic and Blackpool in the race for ex-Wrexham striker Sam Dalby, FLW has learned.

Bolton Wanderers have joined Wigan Athletic and Blackpool in the race to sign ex-Wrexham striker and free agent Sam Dalby, sources have exclusively informed Football League World.

It was revealed in Wrexham's recently announced retained list that Dalby had been offered a new contract to remain at the Racecourse Ground in January, but that he'd turned that offer down.

As such, the 25-year-old will now leave the newly promoted Championship side on a free transfer this summer, and that has alerted a number of EFL clubs.

Bolton join Wigan and Blackpool in free transfer race for ex-Wrexham star Sam Dalby

Bolton Wanderers have joined Wigan Athletic and Blackpool in the race to secure the free agent signature of newly released Wrexham striker Sam Dalby, Football League World has exclusively been informed.

Dalby is a product of Leyton Orient's academy system, before graduating and making a handful of senior appearances for the O's at the start of his professional career.

As an 18-year-old in January 2018, the striker would sign for then-Championship side Leeds United on a two-and-a-half-year contract, but would leave Elland Road in the summer of 2019 having made no competitive first-team appearances.

He would then have spells with Watford, Stockport County and Woking respectively, before signing for Southend United on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.

After a nine-goal season in the National League, and after collecting Southend's young player of the year for 2021/22, Dalby would sign for Wrexham in the summer of 2022, on a two-year contract with the option of a third year.

The 6'3" striker would play an important role for the Red Dragons over the following two seasons, making 40+ total appearances across both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns respectively.

However, he has struggled for goals during his time with the club, and as such, was loaned out to Scottish Premiership side Dundee United for the 2024/25 season.

Dalby enjoyed best scoring season of his career with Dundee - that should give EFL sides confidence he can be free agent bargain

As it turned out, this move to Tannadice would be one of the best decisions of his career.

Dalby would hit 15 goals in 35 Scottish Premiership appearances this past season, and finished the season as Dundee's top goalscorer.

He would also register three assists too, with two of those coming in the league, with another in the Scottish League Cup.

As a result, the 25-year-old has been one of the standout players in Scotland this term, and has proven himself to be a deadly marksman at a competitive level of football.

His goals enabled the Terrors to enjoy an excellent season back in the Scottish top flight after their Championship title-winning season in 2023/24, as Jim Goodwin's side finished fourth and have secured European football for next season.

Therefore, Dalby's exploits north of the border should instill significant amounts of confidence in the likes of Bolton, Wigan and Blackpool that his free agent signature would be a highly shrewd piece of business.

This fruitful goalscoring season - the best of his professional career - may well prove to be a real watershed moment in his career, and set him up for a return to English football with a bang next season.