Bolton Wanderers have reportedly completed a deal for Bristol Rovers striker Aaron Collins, as per Mike McGrath on X, formerly Twitter.
Ian Evatt’s side have been chasing the forward throughout the transfer window, but a move was looking ever more difficult following the report that a bid had been rejected on Sunday.
The 26-year-old joined his current club on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after spending two seasons at Forest Green Rovers. He became a key part of Joey Barton’s promotion-winning side, scoring 15 goals in League Two, including a brace on the final day as his side thumped Scunthorpe United, a result which saw them overturn a goal difference swing and beat Northampton Town to automatic promotion to League One.
The Welshman stepped up his game again in the third tier and has managed to accrue 40 goal contributions during his first 18 months in the division.
Bolton currently sit second in the league, three points behind leaders Portsmouth but with three games in hand. They will be hoping they can get over the line and the addition of Collins could provide them with the extra firepower they need.
On the flip side, losing the star would be a huge blow for the Bristol outfit. Although his goalscoring form has not been quite as impressive this season, his nine assists illustrate how integral he still is to the side.
Although a move is reportedly done, all paperwork will need to be completed by 11pm tonight for the transfer to go through.
Bolton host Barnsley this weekend in a bid to solidify their place in the top two, a game which could see the forward make his debut if the move is completed.
Writer’s View
Collins could be the perfect missing piece for Ian Evatt. His goalscoring ability is obvious in this tier, but what also sets him apart is his assist record. With strikers such as Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo already amongst their ranks, adding quality like this up top would not necessarily be a revelation at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, but could still be the missing piece of the jigsaw.
Although this move would undoubtedly be a major blow for the Gas, it seems unlikely that they will be fighting in either a playoff or relegation battle come the end of the season. Therefore, this may be the best window to cash in on a high-value asset like this.
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