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The one signing that Owen Coyle really wants to make for Bolton Wanderers is a new defensive midfielder. After Nigel Reo-Coker left the Reebok for what he had hoped would be bigger and better things, the Trotters had tried to sign someone to fill his shoes. Kalifa Cisse simply wasn't good enough, the Carlos Sanchez deal simply didn't work out, and Liverpool simply want more than what Bolton are willing to pay for young Jay Spearing. In light of this and according to the Bolton News, defender Zat Knight has been whispering sweet nothings into the Manager's ear in order to get him to speak to NRC.
Nigel Reo-Coker left Bolton Wanderers almost immediately following the club's relegation to the Championship in hopes of returning to the Premier League with another club. Rumors were that Fulham were interested in his services as were Spain's Sevilla and a team or two in Serie A but the latest bit of paper talk said that Reo-Coker was in talks with Hull City. Not only would that not be a lateral move for the midfielder that always gave 100% in a Bolton shirt, it would be a downward move and by some margin.
In an interview with Marc Iles of the Bolton News, Zat Knight said of the situation:
"I've been in the manager's ear a bit to try and get Nigel back,
"I speak to Nigel every day, but it's a decision for him and the manager - I don't know if the manager wants him, and I don't know if he wants to come back.
"I've said to Nigel that there's still nine or 10 months left of the season, and even if he could just get a contract for that length of time, he would be fantastic for us.
"But that's just me thinking and talking - it's the manager, the money people and the agents who do that kind of thing. It's out of our hands.
"Darren Pratley, Mark Davies and Keith Andrews are all good, attacking-type midfielders so maybe we do need someone who's happy to sit and give the ball to those lads.
"I'm not the manager at the end of the day, but hopefully we can get one or two more players in to strengthen the squad.
"I always say there's not just four defenders, we do it as a team,
"When we haven't got the ball, that's when everyone is classed as a defender. When we have got it, we're classed as attackers. But there's no point making excuses - we took our eye off the ball for the second goal and the midfielder got a run on us. We're frustrated about it.
"This league is about concentration and the way you approach the game.
"When you go against a Premier League team you know it will be tough because every player is quality, but in this league the work -rate is completely different.
"In the Premier League you can get beaten by a great free kick, but there's nothing that special here for me, it's purely about matching work-rate. If we do that, the quality we've got in the squad can beat anyone."
There is no doubt that Bolton Wanderers miss Nigel Reo-Coker helping out with defensive duties in the middle of the park. Should Bolton Wanderers open talks with Reo-Coker, would you take him back after what many view is him walking out on the club?