Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt has said the Whites have been offered players and are continuing to seek reinforcements but that nothing is imminent and vowed Wanderers will not overspend and walk away from deals if the price is not right.
Wanderers had made five acquisitions so far this summer. Eoin Toal and Jack Iredale have joined on permanent deals from Derry City and Cambridge United.
Two players have also been brought in on loan for the campaign. Defender Conor Bradley has joined from Liverpool, while goalkeeper James Trafford has been signed up again from Manchester City.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers transfer deadline day LIVE: Ian Evatt gives updates ahead of window closing
Signing number five was confirmed yesterday with Owen Beck signing from Liverpool on loan for the season. He will link up with Reds teammate Bradley at the University of Bolton Stadium.
And speaking this afternoon ahead of the window shutting at 11pm, Evatt has said no new signings are imminent at present, despit enquiries being made and players indeed offered. He has been clear the club will not overspend and will walk away from deals if the finances do not meet what Wanderers are willing to spend.
“Not as yet. I don’t want to give anyone false hope. I think what’s really important is that number one, I’m happy with the squad I’ve got and I do believe in the players that we’ve got and I do believe that they’re all capable of doing what we need them to do. That’s the truth.
“We’re always looking to strengthen of course and bring in other players that we think would make us better, but there is a trade-off with that and I’ve said all along I will never ever put this club’s finances at risk.
“We don’t and won’t overspend and if the price gets driven too high for what we believe it should be, then we’ll walk away from deals and that remains the case. It’s as simple as that.
“That’s the truth. We’ll see how things develop and play out for the rest of the day, but for now there’s not much happening.
“We’ve made enquiries and we’ve been offered lots of good players, but I think we’ve got lots of good players and I think we have to remember that.
“I have complete trust and belief in my players and we try and put a market value to everybody and once on deadline day or even just before, the market value gets driven up, I must say agents play a huge part in that as well, then once it gets above what we’re comfortable with then we’re willing to walk away from deals and that will always remain the same.
“I think we’ve ally strong squad and pound for pound have amazing value in our squad and I do believe that we’ve got a very good squad of players in all areas that are capable of doing special things. We have to go out there and prove that, but for now if I don’t think the market value outweighs or trades off with what I think we’ve got in the building already then the answer will be no and we’ll walk away and that’s at the stage we’re at right now.”
The acquisition of Beck yesterday afternoon is an example of the value being right for Bolton and offered an alternative in the squad. Wanderers do have funds to bring in more players but it will be done sustainably and not see Wanderers pay over the odds.
He said: “Our relationship with Liverpool is a strong and fantastic one and once that didn’t happen and work out with Familicao in the Portuguese Premier League, Owen became available at good value for us and we feel he’s slightly different to the other ones we’ve got in that position, so we chose to do it and strengthen the squad.
“We can do that and we will do that. It’s nothing to do with not having money available or not having funds available, it’s to do with what we’ve set out to do from day one and that is keep this club sustainable and in a comfortable position. That’s what we’ll continue to do.”
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