Conor Shaughnessy needs a fresh start away from Championship outfit Leeds United - how about League One crisis-club Bolton Wanderers?
Bolton Wanderers are interested in signing Leeds United defender Conor Shaughnessy, according to Leeds Live, though a prolonged takeover of the Lancashire crisis-club threatens to derail any potential deal.
Unlike the top two divisions, clubs in League One and League Two can still sign new players until September 2. So Bolton are free to make a move for Shaughnessy, a talented young defender who does not appear to have any future under Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road.
The Republic of Ireland U21 international has made just 15 appearances for Leeds since joining from Reading in 2016 and spent the second half of last season on loan at Hearts.
And despite a worrying lack of depth at the heart of Leeds’ defence, especially following the departure of cult hero Pontus Jansson, it seems very unlikely that Shaughnessy will be handed a fresh start. Bielsa doesn’t often change his mind after all.
According to Leeds Live, Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion had expressed an interest though Bolton are his most likely destination as things stand.
Cash-strapped Bolton have seen their very existence threatened by serious financial problems, so you can imagine that any deal would only be a temporary one. The Trotters haven’t spent a penny in the transfer market all summer, signing James Weir for free and Josh Earl on loan from Preston.
The question is whether Shaughnessy is willing to join a club in the darkest days of their proud history, with just a smattering of senior players and sitting second from bottom in the League One table thanks to a 12-point deduction.
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