Plymouth Argyle is set to raid Bolton Wanderers for goalkeeper Nathan Baxter should Michael Cooper leave the club, as reported by Alan Nixon on his Patreon.
Wayne Rooney’s men were soundly beaten at Hillsborough on Sunday, with Sheffield Wednesday running out 4-0 victors in the worst possible start for the new boss.
The Pilgrims are reportedly interested in bringing Bolton keeper Baxter to Home Park should Cooper depart, with Sheffield United showing an interest in the 24-year-old.
Baxter was part of the Wanderers side who lost to Oxford United in the League One playoff final term. The 25-year-old stopper signed on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2023 and played a key role in his side’s run to Wembley.
Despite missing a chunk of the season through injury, Baxter managed to record 14 clean sheets in 33 games and only conceded 33 times during the regular season.
The former Chelsea man is under contract with the Lancashire outfit until the summer of 2025 so his employers may see this transfer as an ideal opportunity to cash in rather than risk losing him on a free.
Manager Ian Evatt looks to have a ready-made replacement for Baxter should he depart for Devon in the shape of Luke Southwood. The Northern Ireland international joined Wanderers in the summer from relegated Cheltenham Town, having impressed over how two seasons with the Robins.
Any move to Argyle would see Baxter competing with former Celtic goalkeeper Conor Hazard for the number-one spot, who started Sunday’s defeat after ending the previous season on the bench.
Writer’s View
Bolton looks set to be the party to come out of this deal with the most favourable result. They will hope to cash in on Baxter who only has a year left on his contract and won’t need to bring in a replacement.
For Baxter, this is an opportunity to play Championship football but he may find himself sitting on the bench behind Hazard and in a side that, according to many, is set for a very challenging campaign.
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