Bolton Wanderers fans will be hoping for further transfer activity for the Trotters.
The Lancashire club is entering its fourth consecutive season in League One, hoping that this will be the year they return to the second level.
Ian Evatt’s side has come very close to promotion to the Championship in the last two seasons, but have fallen short at the penultimate hurdle.
The goal will be to go one step further than previous season, when they made it all the way to the play-off final before being defeated by Oxford United.
Bolton have already been busy signing new players, with Luke Southwood, Chris Forino, and Klaidi Lolos coming in recent weeks.
But they don’t appear to be stopping there; it has been reported in the past week that the club has had a proposal rejected by Peterborough United for Joel Randall, as well as two bids turned down for Kilmarnock winger Daniel Armstrong.
It is evident that Bolton is aiming to bolster their midfield, particularly the wide area, and if that is the case, the club should try to make one last bid for Armstrong, considering his current circumstances.
Bolton Wanderers see two bids rejected for Daniel Armstrong
According to the Daily Mail, via the Daily Record (live transfer blog, 9:43), Kilmarnock has rejected two bids for Bolton Wanderers winger Daniel Armstrong.
The Scotsman has been at the Scottish Premiership team since July 2021, arriving on a free transfer from Raith Rovers.
Armstrong has entered the final year of his contract with the club, and manager Derek McInnes has stated that he wants the player to sign a new contract, but no agreement has been reached as of yet.
Given his circumstances at Kilmarnock, the Trotters have been attempting to attract him away, with reports indicating that the club has had two bids rejected, with their best offer being around £400,000.
But the Scottish team has said no. Despite the fact that his contract is about to expire, they are determined to keep him.
Bolton should make fresh offer for Daniel Armstrong given contract situation
Bolton have reportedly had two bids for Daniel Armstrong rejected by Kilmarnock.
As a result, it appears that the Trotters are quite interested in the player and want to sign him during the current transfer window.
Now that Bolton is in League One, they don’t have unlimited resources, so they can’t afford to spend a lot of money on one player.
A bid of £400,000 is a lot of money for Bolton, therefore the club will most likely be hesitant to make a new offer, especially given that the player only has 12 months left on his contract.
However, this should inspire Bolton to consider increasing their offer significantly, as Kilmarnock may be forced to sell, even if they do not want to.
Armstrong has one year left on his contract, and the fact that Bolton is offering him the chance to play in England, and possibly the Championship if the team is promoted, may tip the scales in the Trotters’ favour if they make a third offer.
It’s reasonable that the League One side is also interested in signing Armstrong. The player was outstanding for Kilmarnock last season.
The 26-year-old started 37 of the club’s 38 league games, playing an average of 81 minutes per game.
Armstrong scored six goals during that period, which could have been more given his 1.9 shot per game average and three wasted great chances.
Armstrong’s goal total was impressive, but as an attacking player, he should have done better. He would have rated sixth among Bolton players last season, along with midfielder George Thomason.
However, this places him ahead of Randell Williams and Josh Dacres-Cogley, two players Armstrong is likely to compete with for a starting spot.
His ingenuity, however, was particularly amazing. According to Sofascore.com, he produced an astounding 25 significant opportunities for his teammates while also collecting 2.5 vital passes, resulting in 10 assists.
According to Sofascore.com, Armstrong ranks among Bolton’s most creative players in terms of assists. He would be paired with Aaron Collins, who also had ten last season, but two behind the Trotters’ most creative danger, Josh Sheehan.
When Armstrong’s numbers are compared to those of Bolton’s players from last season, it’s clear why the club is interested in him. He would undoubtedly boost the team by scoring and assisting from out wide.
Given that Armstrong is in the final year of his contract, Bolton should aim to test Kilmarnock’s determination for the third time and attract him away from the club.
