Bolton Wanderers must rival Ipswich Town for the likes of Rudy Gestede and Daryl Murphy

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Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town are battling for Championship survival.

According to a report by TWTD and by the Telegraph, Ipswich Town are looking at January moves for Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough strikers Daryl Murphy and Rudy Gestede.

The Tractor Boys are currently bottom of the Championship, five points from safety. With just 18 goals scored this season, manager Paul Lambert is evidently looking to bolster his side’s attacking threat in January.

But Bolton, also struggling at the bottom of the Championship, have scored even less and without an addition or two in January it’s difficult to see how the Trotters can get out of the mess they find themselves in.

The Lancashire club have managed just one win in their last 18 league games, and six goals scored in their last 15. Manager Phil Parkinson needs more creativity and a focal point upfront.

Clayton Donaldson and Christian Doidge were both brought in during the summer, but with just one goal between them they aren’t providing Bolton with enough to give them a fighting chance.

Murphy and Gestede both know their way around the Championship, and Ipswich are reportedly looking at them both with a view of a loan deal – something Bolton should seek considering their reported financial troubles.

The Trotters only recently paid their staff November’s wages reported by Sky Sports, and it’s unlikely they will have any funds to sign players permanently in January without selling somebody first.

Loan deals are their best bet, and Boro’s Gestede in particular should be a player they ought to consider with The Telegraph reporting how the Teesside club have made him available for transfer in January.

Gestede may have only made one start for Boro this term, but the 30-year-old not long ago hit 20 league goals in a single campaign for Blackburn Rovers and would provide Bolton with a focal point up top.

His presence and hold-up play could allow Bolton to push 10 yards further up the field, and give the likes of Will Buckley, Sammy Ameobi and Erhun Oztumer a better platform to prove more in the final third.