Bolton Wanderers striker Aaron Collins' ambitions questioned as shock MK Dons transfer edges closer | OneFootball

Aaron Collins is set to drop down to League Two to sign for MK Dons, with his ambition being called into question.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Bolton Wanderers forward Aaron Collins is set to complete a move to League Two side MK Dons this summer.

Football League World exclusively revealed that MK Dons had agreed a deal with Bolton to sign the Welshman, with the fee believed to exceed £850,000.

The Dons are set for an ambitious attempt to compete for promotion back to League One next season despite a 19th-placed finish last campaign, with promotion expert Paul Warne aiming to add further success to his already impressive CV.

The Buckinghamshire-based outfit are set to have a League Two marksman on their books given Collins netted 19 times at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in all competitions last term, with Bolton suffering a damaging blow by losing their top scorer.

Expected to drop down a division, questions have been raised as to Collins’ ambitions in his career, as his regular goalscoring exploits in the third tier could have earned him a stab at Championship football in the near future.

With this in mind, FLW’s Bolton Wanderers fan pundit has weighed in with his thoughts on the latest developments.

Aaron Collins’ ambitions called into question ahead of MK Dons switch

Speaking to Football League World, Bolton Wanderers fan pundit Liam O’Meara doesn’t believe Aaron Collins has shown any career ambition by making the move to MK Dons.

O’Meara told FLW: “It's a very difficult one in my view. Unambitious? It depends on what his ambitions are.

"What are Aaron Collins’ ambitions? Does he want to play at the highest level possible, which in the past he’s talked about representing Wales? I don't see how this move facilitates that.

“He has been linked with a lot of clubs, which makes you think that, and I don't know this, but it makes you think that Bolton haven't been averse to him leaving. It doesn't just happen when you’re linked with multiple clubs.

"Is Aaron Collins’ ambition to earn as much money as possible? And if it is, fair enough, then this move to a club like that would potentially facilitate that. Does he want to play under the best manager possible? I mean Paul Warne is a very good manager, so I can absolutely see why you'd want to play under Warne.

“In terms of the potential of MK Dons, I've not seen anything that they are going to be the sized club that when (Pete) Winkelman set them up, that they’re going to grow into that, so I'm struggling to find a case for it being ambitious to be completely honest, unless your ambition is to create as much wealth as possible in what is a short career and if it is, then fair enough to him.”

MK Dons project is exciting for Aaron Collins as Bolton Wanderers exit nears

It will ultimately be a body blow for Bolton to lose such an influential presence up front, particularly given that there was an exciting prospect of seeing Collins play off target man Sam Dalby heading into next season.

You have to think that Bolton have identified alternative targets that could do a better job than Collins, with Steven Schumacher still in the process of putting his stamp on the side to deliver long-term success.

Meanwhile, the project in League Two for MK Dons looks promising, and the 28-year-old attacker should be one of the most productive forwards in the fourth tier after establishing himself in League One and netting 15 times during his last campaign in League Two, with Bristol Rovers.

With signings like Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and now Collins, under the stewardship of a manager well-versed in gaining promotion wherever he goes, you would back MK Dons to be right at the top of the League Two table, and potentially facing off against Bolton in the next year or two.

While it may appear an unambitious move for Collins’ perspective right now, it could turn out to be the best decision of his career if MK Dons can reestablish themselves and climb back up the EFL in the next few seasons.