Transfer Gossip: Wanderers Missed Out on Hamburg Striker This Summer

If reports in the German press this morning are to be believed, it appears that Celtic's Antony Stokes is not the only striker Bolton Wanderers missed out on this summer.

Various outlets are reporting that Neil Lennon ambitiously attempted to bring out of favour Hamburger SV, Hamburg to you and me, striker Artjoms Rudnevs to the club.

The Latvian frontman is no longer a first team regular at the Volksparkstadion and isn't in manager Bruno Labbadia's plans. It seems like the Latvian, the first from his nation to play in the Bundesliga, has found himself a casualty of Hamburg's dismal performances over the last two years.

As such, Lennon attempted to bring the 27-year old to the Macron Stadium on a loan deal, but the European window slammed shut before a deal could be concluded, and since the now open loan window only applies to domestic clubs, the move won't be happening until at least January, if at all.

Rudnevs moved to Germany in 2012, in 62 appearances for Hamburg he mustered only 13 goals. He also spent some time on loan at Hannover 96 last year, scoring four times in 16 appearances. Before his big move to the Bundesliga, Rudnevs was a prolific striker in Poland, with a very impressive 33 goals in 56 appearances. He managed 21 goals in 75 showings for his first club, Daugava Daugavpils, and then 20 goals in 30 games for Zalaegerszegi TE.

It's clear that Lennon is a big fan of Rudnevs - I'm reliably informed that he tried to sign him for Celtic before his move to Hamburg - so with Rudnevs' contract expiring at the end of the season it could be one to keep an eye on.