Bolton Wanderers are preparing for a big League One season ahead under Steven Schumacher.
Last year, the Whites had a poor season, finishing outside of the play-offs despite reaching the promotion shootout final the previous year.
Ian Evatt’s stint at the club came to an end, and Schumacher replaced him in January, with the team adrift of the top six.
The League One side climbed back to eighth place in the standings, but lost out on the play-offs by ten points.
Here, we look at all the latest developments surrounding Bolton as they prepare for the forthcoming season.
Bolton agree midfielder move
Bolton have agreed to sign midfielder Jesper Ceesay from Swedish side IFK Norrkoping.
According to The Bolton News, the Whites are close to completing the transfer of the 22-year-old.
The Sweden underage international is likely to make the move to English football, with the League One club looking for a permanent deal for a player in the final six months of his contract.
According to reports, Bolton will spend £350,000 to sign him this summer rather than bringing him in as a free agent during the January transfer window.
While it is thought that personal terms have still to be agreed upon, this is not expected to be a major stumbling block to the move.
Johnny Kenny bid rejected
Celtic have rejected Bolton’s offer for Johnny Kenny, as they consider a move for the attacker.
According to The Scottish Sun, Glasgow is holding out for up to £1 million before cashing in on the player.
| Johnny Kenny – Celtic league goals and appearances (per Fbref.com) | ||||
| Season | Appearances (Starts) | Goals (Assists) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 8 (1) | 1 (1) | ||
Schumacher is looking to improve his attacking options and has set his sights on the 22-year-old.
However, the Scottish giants turned down an offer of around £500,000.
It remains to be seen whether Bolton is willing to satisfy Celtic’s six-figure expectations.
Bolton end scouting department relationship
According to Alan Nixon, Bolton has parted ways with scouting outfit Ludonautics after a two-year association.
The firm is expected to be replaced by new employees as the Whites seek to freshen up their recruitment strategy.
The firm was led by current Liverpool CEO Michael Edwards, but the League One club has decided to sever their partnership after the team took a step back last year.
This development comes as Bolton seeks to make adjustments behind the scenes that will improve their chances of returning to the Championship next season.
Bolton set for Sheffield Wednesday clash
The first round of the EFL Cup will take place in early August, and Bolton learned their opponent late last week.
It has been revealed that Schumacher’s side will play Championship team Sheffield Wednesday on August 11 and 12.
This will be the first encounter between the two teams since March 17, 2023, when they drew 1–1.
The winner will advance to the second round, which will feature Premier League teams that are not competing in European competitions this season.
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