Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher has revealed the offer from MK Dons for striker Aaron Collins was too good to turn down as he looks to reshape his squad ahead of next season.
The 28-year-old sealed his switch to the League Two club yesterday following days of talks between the two clubs. It comes as MK Dons continue their transfer splurge as they aim to blow the competition out of the water in the fourth tier.
For Bolton, it means that they lose last season’s top scorer and Player of the Year. However, The Bolton News report that they will receive a healthy £800,000, the same fee they paid Bristol Rovers for the attacker in January 2024.
Schumacher Looking To The Future
A disappointing end to the campaign saw Bolton miss out on a place in the play-offs. Schumacher knows that at least a top six finish is expected next season and work has already been done to improve his squad.
There has already been four new arrivals at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, including that of former England youth international Xavier Simons. They’ve also brought in two attackers so far, with Sam Dalby joining from Wrexham whilst they also won the battle for non-league gem Charlie Warren.
This softens the blow of Collins’ departure somewhat, with Schumacher revealing the reasons for his depature:
“Firstly, on behalf of everyone at the club, I want to thank Aaron for his contribution, particularly last season. He leaves with our very best wishes for the future.
“However, as we continue to actively reshape this squad to create a more dynamic and robust team for the campaign ahead, opportunities can arise that are in the best long-term interests of the football club. We received an offer from MK Dons that we believe represents fair value for the player and which allows us to accelerate our recruitment plans.
“This decision is a key part of our wider strategy, which is focused on building a team with the specific attributes required to drive standards and achieve our ambition.
“With the recent arrivals already adding to the group, and with more work still being done, we are moving decisively to build a squad that fully embraces the philosophy we are building here at Bolton Wanderers.
“We are excited about the direction we are heading.”
Writer’s View
Although Collins was a key part of Bolton’s attack last season, they clearly feel they can replace the 19-goal striker. The deal is a good one as it was likely that this represented the last time they could recoup the entirety of their initial outlay on the player, whilst £800,000 will go a long way in bringing in quality reinforcements throughout the squad. The Trotters already had a healthy budget so if they spend wisely, they will be one of the favourites for promotion.
