Steven Schumacher must fix glaring Bolton Wanderers issue before 3rd August | OneFootball

Steven Schumacher is largely getting what he wants at Bolton Wanderers this summer, but a striker must now be the priority.

Bolton Wanderers are in the middle of a shake up during this summer transfer window, with the Trotters’ boss Steven Schumacher appearing to get what wants so far in the window.

With the aid of new Sporting Director Fergal Harkin and new Head of Recruitment Jimmy Dickinson, Wanderers have been able to strengthen key areas of the squad that were weakest, whilst also reshaping and restructuring the squad, as Schumacher himself suggested he wanted to do.

The former Plymouth Argyle boss warned fans that it may not be a major overhaul this summer, due to the amount of players still under contract, but several key figures from the first-team have departed.

Former captain Ricardo Santos left at the end of his deal alongside the likes of vice-captain Gethin Jones and goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, whilst Luke Southwood and Aaron Collins have been sold to Bristol Rovers and Milton Keynes Dons respectively.

As Schumacher continues to rebuild to get what he wants, Bolton still have one position that should now be of the utmost importance – striker.

Bolton need to prioritise the striker position

It is expected that the Whites make a move for at least one striker before the close of this summer’s market, but it should be of such importance that they rush to bring in a deal before the season gets underway.

The nucleus of the squad appears to now be set, and Schumacher’s desire to shift to a different shape is coming to fruition with the addition of a few wingers, such as Charlie Warren, Thierry Gale and Amario Cozier-Duberry.

As Wanderers move closer to their opening game of the season, a short trip to Edgeley Park to face Stockport County, their business should be focused around bringing in a striker.

The club have already had a bid of £500,000 rejected by Celtic for former Shamrock Rovers striker Johnny Kenny, and they are said to have been interested in Niall Ennis, whom Schumacher worked with at both Plymouth and then Stoke City, but he has since joined Blackpool on a permanent basis.

Of the strikers left at the club, Dan Nlundulu was left out of the travelling party for their recent trip to Marbella, whereby they defeated the Orlando Pirates by two goals to nil, and he has been told by Schumacher to explore options for his future.

Victor Adeboyejo has been as unreliable in terms of actually getting himself fit and onto the pitch as he has been when he has been fit in terms of his performances, whilst the latter can also be said for the mercurial but inconsistent John McAtee, a player who doesn’t yet appear to have nailed down exactly what his best position, despite turning 26 before the 2025/26 season begins.

The bulk of the business, or at least the most important business, has now been done, and the squad appears in a good position to move forward, but Bolton must identify a solution to their striking problem, and act swiftly to get the deal done.

Bolton will continue to do business

It is expected that Bolton will continue to do business, both in terms of comings and goings, in the next month and a half or so, despite the nucleus of the squad being well set.

It has recently been reported that Huddersfield Town are set to make a £750,000 offer for club captain George Thomason, whilst Stockport County are said to be interested in centre-back Will Forrester.

A goalkeeper is someone who is expected to be brought in, offering competition to Chelsea loanee Teddy Sharman-Lowe, with both Jamie Jones and Nathan Broome having spent time on trial with the club so far this summer.

As well as a goalkeeper, they will also likely still require a left-back, with Max Conway, last season’s Crewe Alexandra Player of the Year, the only out and out player in that position.

In defensive midfield, with Thomason’s potential departure, a move for Norrkoping midfielder Jesper Ceesay appears to have fallen through, so it would be no surprise to see some movement there, too.

However, those signings would all likely be either peripheral squad players, whilst adding a striker of substance and quality is now a necessity and the primary focus with around three weeks’ left until the season gets underway.