Bolton Wanderers: Low key transfer for Man Utd target can help Ian Evatt avoid another promotion stumble – View | OneFootball

Ian Evatt will be looking for a few recruits to bolster what does remain a strong squad Louie Moulden appears to be the first through the door.

Highlights

Last summer, Bolton Wanderers found themselves linked with several goalkeeping options to replace departing loanee James Trafford and back-up Joel Dixon, who was out of contract.

Alan Nixon reported that they were interested in James Beadle of Brighton and Hove Albion, who eventually joined Oxford United and then Sheffield Wednesday on respective loan deals during the 2023/24 campaign, as well as Toby Savin from Accrington Stanley, in what would have been a bizarrely structured ‘pay later’ deal.

In the end, Wanderers brought in former Chelsea goalkeeper Nathan Baxter on a three-year deal, as well as Bolton-born Joel Coleman on a two-year deal, following his release from Ipswich Town.

However, with the summer transfer window of 2024/25 set to begin and Wanderers, once again, aiming for League One promotion after more play-off heartache in the 2023/24 campaign, another goalkeeper is on their shortlist and should likely be considered a priority.

Replacing a Boltonian with a fellow Boltonian

Coleman, born in the Bolton town of Walkden, was brought in as cover to their impressive number one, Baxter.

Up until mid-February, Coleman hadn’t featured in the league for the Wanderers but Baxter’s fractured wrist meant that the 28-year-old keeper was thrust into the firing line.

It seems that Evatt may be keen to avoid the same situation arising in 2024/25. According to Nixon, Bolton are interested in signing 22-year-old Bolton-born goalkeeper Louie Moulden, who is coincidentally the brother of kit man and former academy player Ted Moulden.

Moulden began his youth career at Liverpool before being the subject of a controversial transfer that saw him move to Manchester City and then beginning professionally with the Cityzens without making an appearance – cutting his teeth on loan with non-league side Gloucester City.

After a year, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2021 and has featured in their first-team and matchday squad on occasion in the Premier League but spent the vast majority of his time out on loan with Ebbsfleet United, Solihull Moors, Rochdale, and then Northampton Town.

Northampton was his first Football League move and, as chance would have it, he made his EFL debut against Bolton in a 1-1 draw at Sixfields in February, which was Coleman’s first appearance in the league for Bolton, replacing the injured Lee Burge.

He went on to make a further 11 appearances for the Cobblers before Burge returned from injury but is now expected to depart Molineux this summer on a free transfer at the end of his current deal – handing Wanderers an opportunity.

Improvement is needed in the goalkeeping unit

During Baxter’s injury, Coleman played 13 matches for Bolton and managed to keep just three clean sheets in that time. For context, in the 13 League One matches before that run, Baxter and Bolton had kept seven clean sheets.

In the 13 games he played, Wanderers conceded 20 goals. That means that nearly 40% of the goals that Bolton conceded over the course of the whole season came in the 13 games (less than 30% of League One games) that Coleman played.

Defensive absences, whether that be injury or international duty, and general instability and poor form did not help Coleman’s case but it can’t be argued that an upgrade is required because another Baxter injury will put Wanderers’ promotion hopes at risk yet again.

Having a third-choice goalkeeper is becoming a rarity lower down the leagues for cost-cutting measures but the ability to have that experience will also not be a bad thing for Bolton as Baxter remains number one, Moulden offers better competition and continues to develop, whilst Coleman, as he did when not playing last season, plays the role of a good squad man.

The signing of a backup goalkeeper may not, on the face of it, prove to be the difference between an also-ran and an automatically promoted side but, frankly, there is a good argument it was in the 2022/23 campaign.

Therefore, the potential arrival of Moulden would and should be seen as a major boost to a still-strong Bolton squad that needs upgrades in key areas and this is one of those areas.

The reported interest of Manchester United could be a spanner in the works but if the League One club can land Moulden, a seemingly low-key signing may well end up playing a pivotal role in next season's promotion push.