Bolton Wanderers face stiff competition for Hull City defender Matty Jacob as Swiss club enters race for his signature.
The 23-year-old left-back has been told he can leave the MKM Stadium this summer and is attracting interest from League One and abroad.
Swiss Side Challenge Bolton for Jacob Signature
Steven Schumacher is eager to add a left-sided defender to his ranks, and Jacob is understood to be high on the Bolton manager’s summer shortlist. The Hull City academy product is under contract for two more years, with an optional third year held by the club, meaning any deal will require a transfer fee.
Reports suggest Bolton are among three League One sides vying for his services, but a new twist has emerged with interest from a Swiss Super League club now complicating matters. Jacob is believed to be weighing up the prospect of playing overseas, though Bolton’s ambition and recent track record under Ian Evatt and Schumacher remain appealing.
The Trotters had also been linked with Lincoln City defender Sean Roughan, but with the Irishman now heading to Huddersfield Town, attention has turned more firmly toward Jacob. His teammate at Hull, Xavier Simons, is also being considered for a move to the Toughsheet Community Stadium. The midfielder, once of Chelsea, is reportedly valued at around £500,000 and has also attracted interest from Hibernian, Wigan Athletic and Plymouth Argyle.
Simons featured 20 times for Hull in the Championship last season but was loaned to Wycombe Wanderers after falling out of favour following head coach Tim Walter’s departure.
Bolton have already secured one signing this summer, bringing in striker Sam Dalby from Wrexham on a free transfer. However, they remain active in several areas, with a goalkeeper seen as a top priority. Potential loan deals have been discussed with Chelsea’s Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Crystal Palace’s Owen Goodman, and QPR’s Murphy Cooper—all of whom impressed in the EFL last season.
With Schumacher intent on deploying wingers in his system, Bolton are also expected to strengthen out wide, with Szabolcs Schön and Jordi Osei-Tutu currently the only senior wide options on the books.
Writer’s View
Matty Jacob would be a smart addition for Bolton—a naturally left-sided defender with Championship experience and the sort of technical ability Schumacher favours. However, the growing foreign interest may force the club’s hand sooner than expected.
With Roughan heading elsewhere and Simons likely to command a hefty fee, it’s becoming a crucial period in Bolton’s recruitment window. Should they lose out to Swiss competition, it may prompt a pivot to other targets, but Jacob remains an ideal fit for the system and ambition at the Toughsheet.
