In today's News Of The World, Bolton are linked with a 1m move for Everton youngster, James Vaughan.
So, let's cut straight to the chase, it is no secret that the major blotch on Vaughan's record is his injuries, in paticular his knee problems.
Despite this, at the mooted 1m price-tag, I am convinced James Vaughan could be the signing of the summer.
Bolton are crying out for a quick, young striker who can score goals in the Premier League. James Vaughan ticks all the boxes.
I have been a fan of Vaughan since he broke onto the scene at Goodison as a 16-year old kid, beating Wayne Rooney's record as the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer.
Having represented England at all youth levels, it seemed only natural to expect Vaughan to be a future England international- and maybe he still has the game to do so.
But after a succession of injuries(including one nineteen month spell) his career was brought to a halt. Since his latest return, he has been attempting to regain the form he once displayed. A couple of unspectacular loan spells at Championship clubs might put some off and cast doubts that he has simply lost the magic he had as a teenager. I simply do not buy that.
Vaughan is just 21, and even with all his injuries, he already has around fifty Premier league games to his name. He may never be a 38-game a season player, but still so young, he has plenty of time to grow into his body, and to develop into a regular first-team player.
As a fan of Vaughan, I have no doubts that without injury problems, he'd be stood alongside Jack Rodwell as Everton's hottest prospect. He'd be on the fringes of an England call-up and he'd have the likes of United, Arsenal and Tottenham, checking him out, 10-15m bids being rumoured in the papers.
We have a great chance to pick up a potentially great player on a cut-price. If the NOTW article is to be believed, it will be a short-term deal, based mainly on appearences. An even bigger incentive to sign him up, such a small gamble with such a potentially big reward.
All this said, you have to look at the other side, he could as easily 'do a Joey O'Brien', he could sign a contract, he could pick up an injury in pre-season and might never play for us again.
But then there is just that chance he could so easily be a Bolton regular for the next ten years.
Roll the dice Owen. James Vaughan is a gamble worth taking.
Another player possibly on his way to the Reebok is Martin Petrov.
Petrov may be at the other end of his career to Vaughan, but is an equally exciting prospect.
A fit Martin Petrov is up there with pretty much any other left-winger currently playing in the Premier League- the signing is much more out of the 'Big Sam' playbook than what you might expect from Coyle, and there is no sell on value to Petrov. However he possesses the individual brilliance to take us back towards the top ten.
Hopefully Owen can pull both deals off in the coming weeks.
COME ON YOU WHITEMEN
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