Despite Championship interest in the Salford City winger, Kelly N’Mai is apparently not close to signing a contract with Bolton Wanderers.
Following an impressive season in League Two, the 21-year-old is expected to advance in the football hierarchy this summer.
Karl Robinson, the manager of City, has said in the past that the Ammies should turn down offers for the club’s youth product that exceed £1 million. Salford had a strong play-off drive last season owing to N’Mai’s nine goals and five assists, but a stalemate with already-relegated Carlisle United on the last day kept them just outside the top seven.
Bolton Wanderers not close to agreeing Kelly N’Mai deal
Bolton’s interest in the winger has been well documented. They have already had a bid rejected for the 21-year-old, according to Football Insider.
Although Steven Schumacher’s team is interested in signing N’Mai this summer, a deal is not yet finalised, according to recent sources from the Bolton News.
The Salford man is also being pursued by the Championship. According to an exclusive report by Football League World, Salford has been contacted regarding N’Mai’s availability, and Middlesbrough and Preston North End are interested in signing the youngster this summer.
The Trotters have had a very active start to the summer window. Already they have made five additions to Schumacher’s squad in his first proper window in charge of the Lancashire club. They have also had one major outgoing; last season’s top scorer, Aaron Collins, has joined fourth tier side MK Dons for a reported £800,000 fee.
Bolton’s boss has said that there is scope for more incomings and outgoings this summer. He wants to have a more streamlined squad to work with next term, but, with players due back for the start of pre-season training soon, Schumacher has left the door open for some more transfer movement, amid the N’Mai links, before their 25/26 preparations get underway.
He said, via the Bolton News: “We still feel we can add potentially one or two more before the players come in for pre-season. There are obviously going to be players who will leave as well, knowing that their game time will be limited.
“It’s an exciting part of the season but the most important thing is that we are ready come 2nd August.”
Bolton would sign Kelly N’Mai as a project.
You would think that N’Mai would have a clearly defined role in the team right away if he were one of the players who could enter Toughsheet Community Stadium before preseason training started.
He clearly had a better campaign the previous time around and had some really encouraging traits. However, it might take some time for League One to make that hope a reality.
N’Mai isn’t a player from whom Wanderers supporters should anticipate instant, top-tier output, in contrast to some of Bolton’s recent acquisitions.
