"Really surprised" - Bolton Wanderers confusion issued over Sheff Wed, Swansea & Derby County transfer interest | OneFootball

FLW's Bolton Wanderers fan pundit has given his reaction to reports that Ricardo Santos is on the radar of three Championship clubs.

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...

Defender Ricardo Santos is currently on the hunt for a new club after being released by Bolton Wanderers.

Santos joined Bolton from non-league side Barnet in the summer of 2020, and after helping the club to promotion from League Two in his first season in Lancashire, he went on to become a key part of the team that consistently challenged towards the top of League One.

After two consecutive play-off finishes, Santos and his team-mates suffered heartbreak as they were beaten by Oxford United in the final at Wembley last season, and following a horror run of just two wins in their final 11 games this campaign, Wanderers missed out on the top six altogether.

To make matters worse for Santos, he was unable to contribute to the Trotters' play-off push in the second half of the season due to a pelvic injury, and after making just one appearance under new head coach Steven Schumacher, he was released at the end of his contract earlier this month, bringing his five-year spell at the Toughsheet Community Stadium to a close.

However, it seems that Santos may not be without a club for long as, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, Championship trio Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Swansea City have all made enquiries about the possible signing of the 29-year-old, while he is also believed to be the subject of interest from "a number of top League One sides".

Bolton Wanderers surprise revealed at Ricardo Santos, Championship talk

When asked for his thoughts on Wednesday, Derby and Swansea's reported interest in Santos, FLW's Bolton Wanderers fan pundit Liam O'Meara admitted that he is surprised to see the defender emerge on the radar of Championship clubs, and he questioned whether he would be able to make the step up to the second tier.

"I've got to admit, I'm really surprised to hear that," Liam told FLW.

"I don't see him as a Championship level player, to be completely honest.

"I think it's more the profile of Santos that draws the eye and the fact that he's so big.

"He is quick and he is a very good recovery defender, but in terms of dominating between the boxes, which I think people automatically think he can do, that's not him, so I'm surprised."

Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Swansea City should be cautious over Ricardo Santos move

Santos was an excellent servant to Bolton over the years, and prospective new employers should look beyond the disappointing end to his time at Toughsheet Community Stadium when assessing whether to sign him this summer.

However, Santos was part of a Wanderers side that had an incredibly underwhelming season in League One and conceded an alarming 70 league goals along the way, so there are question marks over whether he has done enough to earn a Championship move.

Wednesday, Derby and Swansea all need to strengthen at centre-back this summer, but they should carefully consider whether there are better options available than Santos, and a switch to a promotion-chasing third tier club would probably be more suitable for the defender.