Ian Evatt is 'completely relaxed' about the contract talks for Bolton Wanderers skipper Ricardo Almeida Santos and is hopeful the League One sides will be able to persuade the defender to stay.
The 26-year-old is under contract at Wanderers until the summer of 2023 after putting pen to paper on fresh terms last season.
He has been a standout player for Wanderers in Evatt's time as manager, playing every single game of the club's promotion campaign out of League Two last season.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt makes Dion Charles admission after 'gilt-edged' chances missed
He has again impressed this campaign and was installed as Bolton captain following the departure of Antoni Sarcevic in October to Stockport County.
Santos, who joined Wanderers in the summer of 2020, has played 88 games for Bolton so far but not scored yet for Wanderers.
Evatt has revealed he has spoken to Santos about him extending his time at the club as Wanderers seek to keep the defender at Wanderers for the long-term.
Recently, Santos has said that he is focusing on the rest of the season and that he does not want to rush into any decisions, though he stressed that he is happy at Wanderers and does not want that to be misinterpreted that he is stalling on making a choice.
The defender says he will sit down with boss Evatt and his agent in the summer to have proper discussions as he admits he would 'love' to stay and hopes the talks will be positive in the months to come.
The defender is understood to have caught the eye of clubs in the Championship and Evatt believes it is quite a story for Santos over the past couple of years.
After he time at Barnet came to an end before joining Bolton in the summer of 2020, Santos had been looking at the prospect of becoming a delivery driver for Amazon to help pay his bills.
Evatt is relaxed about the contract situation surrounding his skipper and is hopeful that Santos will remain a Bolton player in the long term.
Evatt told the Manchester Evening News: "I’m completely relaxed. I obviously think the world of Rico, I brought him here. Rico has blossomed at this football club, he’s improved and he’s still got work to do.
"We want him to stay of course but it’s a two-way street. It’s not just about what he’s done for us, it’s what we’ve done for him as well. Myself and the rest of the coaching staff have worked really hard with Rico and his development.
"He was at Barnet – a club that was struggling in non-league. I saw in the documentary about how he was very close to becoming an Amazon driver.
"Two years later he’s being hunted by Championship teams and captain of a big club like Bolton Wanderers. It shows how things change and how quickly things can happen.
"I think we’ve been great for Rico as much as he’s been great for us and I’m really relaxed about it. I think the world of him and hopefully we’ll persuade him to stay."
READ MORE: 'How he has to be' - Manchester United legend Paul Scholes aim given for Bolton Wanderers ace
READ MORE: Update on Wigan Athletic's clash with Bolton Wanderers as decision made on League One clash
