Transfer Gossip: Wanderers target English Football’s Top Scorer

According to everyone’s favourite rumour mill, Alan Nixon, Bolton and Salford are keen on bringing in Eoin Doyle to bolster the chance of promotion this coming season.

Doyle, 32, who will become a free agent at the end of the month should he decide to reject the contract offered to him by Swindon, will be hot property after netting 25 league goals this season – the highest in English football. A 20+ goal per season striker is hard to come by in football, especially under a transfer embargo and wage restrictions. Nixon suggests that the Wanderers recruitment team are keen on Doyle, but who wouldn’t be?

It was rumoured that Mansfield were favourites to snap up the Irishmen, but after signing two forwards this week, it is likely they have found alternate options. Doyle has resided in the North West for the past five years having spent time at Preston and Oldham, a move back up north could favour him.

Bolton have not had a player net 20+ in a season since Michael Ricketts in the 2000/01 Division One promotion season. The closest to that feat has been Kevin Davies and Chris Eagles, both with 12 league goals in 2008/09 and 2012/13 respectively.

The impending lower league salary cap could put Wanderers on a level playing field with other suitors. Off stature alone, Bolton are a huge club at this level and should the new manager and recruitment team be able to sell the club’s ambition and project that we face over the next few seasons, we could attract some great players.

Current bookies’ favourite for the vacant managerial job, Ian Evatt, also played with Doyle during his time at Chesterfield. Should Wanderers recruit Evatt, could he turn to his former teammate to lead the line and fire us back to promotion?