Bolton Wanderers could do with a new creative king after Zach Clough departed for Nottingham Forest – and Walsall’s Erhun Oztumer fits the bill.
Bolton Wanderers’ Zach Clough
That Phil Parkinson led Bolton Wanderers to promotion to the Championship just seven months after being saved from administration is impressive enough.
Even more so when you consider that the club lost key creators Zach Clough and Shola Ameobi within a matter of days during the January transfer window, the former signing for Nottingham Forest and the latter returning to parent club Newcastle United.
However, with Bolton preparing for life back in the second tier, Parkinson will know that he needs to improve the options at his disposal. Therefore, a move for Walsall talisman Erhun Oztumer appears to make perfect sense on paper.
HITC sources claim that Bolton are fighting Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Sheffield United for the 5ft 3ins playmaker, ambitiously named ‘the Turkish Messi’.
Oztumer may be unproven at Championship level, joining Peterborough United after starring for non-league Dulwich Hamlet in 2014 and remaining in the third tier ever since, but his performances this season suggest he could step up comfortably.
The diminutive attacking midfielder has 15 goals and seven assists to his name, while dead-ball specialties and penchant for the odd long-range stunner have made him something of a highlight reel king.
And with Bolton still needing to replace the creativity, vision and goal threat of the departed Clough, there are few better available candidates than Oztumer.
Furthermore, he has just one year left to run on his current deal at the Bescot – meaning Bolton could snap him up on a cut-price fee this summer.
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