Star striker Dion Charles’ goals have been essential once again for Bolton Wanderers, who have shown promise in League One this season and are a strong contender for promotion back to the Championship.
In the 2023–24 season, he has scored 13 goals in League One, solidifying Ian Evatt’s team’s automatic promotion, and he has 17 goals for the Trotters overall.
Since joining Bolton from Accrington Stanley in January 2022, the Northern Ireland international has scored a lot of goals. He scored eight goals in his first half-season with Wanderers and then 17 goals in the league in 2022–2023 as they advanced to the play-off semifinals.
Last summer, the former Accrington forward reportedly drew attention; according to TEAMtalk, Stoke City and Watford were closely monitoring the Northern Irish striker. While Hull City and Swansea City have been closely monitoring Charles, according to The Bolton News.
Charles’s contract with the team expires in 2026, but if he can lead Bolton to promotion this year, his value will soar. They will undoubtedly be in a frantic attempt to hang on to him, but that could be challenging if any larger Championship clubs make a bid, especially ones that can pay a substantial salary.
Despite being one of Evatt’s finest players, there was renewed speculation about Charles leaving during the January transfer window. The Bolton News said the club was worth around £5 million.
Like any manager, Evatt will, however, want to ensure that his team is as good as possible, regardless of the league they play in the following season. Part of that will involve holding onto their top players, and their star forward most obviously falls into that category.
With some players out of contract and interest in their top scorer likely to be reignited once the season ends, several players are likely to leave Bolton ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. We take a look at two who could follow Charles out of the exit door, here.
Declan John
Declan John, a left-back who has already spent time away from the team on loan this season and in the fourth division, is expected to leave Bolton in the summer.
The Wales international signed a summer loan agreement with Salford City, where he is still playing as of January 1. With little expectation that he will return to Bolton after that loan expires, it was extended until the end of the season.
After 92 club appearances, John’s contract expires in the summer. Evatt just confirmed that the left-back will be departing the team on a permanent transfer.
You would anticipate that the Red Devils will sign the former Cardiff City and Swansea City player on a free transfer in the summer given how much time he has spent on the field at Salford.
But John is likely to attract interest from other League One teams given the caliber of his League Two performances. In any case, it looks like he has already played his final game for Bolton.
Leave a Reply