Charlton Athletic and Bristol Rovers 'set' to lose transfer race to managerless Bolton Wanderers

Charlton Athletic are set to be beaten to the loan signing of Cardiff City striker Kion Etete by League One rivals Bolton Wanderers, despite the club currently being without a manager.

The Trotters sacked Ian Evatt last week, following a 2-1 defeat to the Addicks at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. However, that has not stopped the club looking to push through deals this month, potentially at the expense of the London outfit.

Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday morning, transfer specialist Darren Witcoop wrote: "Bolton are set to beat Charlton and Bristol Rovers to the loan signing of Cardiff striker Kion Etete. Etete is out of contract at the end of the season."

Bolton Wanderers set for Championship coup

Cardiff City have a surplus of striking options for the rest of their Championship campaign with Callum Robinson in fine form and new signing Yousef Salech impressing since arriving from Swedish outfit Sirius. Isaak Davies is set to return from injury in the near future and Romo Simic has been recalled from KV Kortrijk.

Omar Riza is said to be keen on addressing the balance in his squad and, as such, Etete had been made available for loan over the second half of the season. The 23-year-old has been with the Welsh outfit since 2022 but has struggled with injuries since then.

A product of the Notts County academy system, the striker did spend three years with Tottenham Hotspur but never made a senior appearance in North London. Etete has played 63 times for Cardiff City, scoring nine goals.

The striker has featured just once this season, afforded 45 minutes in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield United. Etete has only made the matchday squad for a Championship fixture one time this term, when he was an unused substitute against Watford earlier this month. That lack of action has come as a result of a hamstring injury.

Bolton Wanderers are chasing a play-off place, despite ending the tenure of Evatt this month. The club sits ninth in the league table but are only one point off the play-offs.

Charlton Athletic transfer plans confirmed

One point and one place separates Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, but Nathan Jones' side do have a game in hand over their rivals. The Welshman has hinted at transfer action at The Valley over the remaining days of the window after Terry Taylor and Nathan Asiimwe left on loan.

Tayo Edun was also sold to League One rivals Peterborough United and, speaking to the South London Press, Jones said: “Every window we do from now on will be slightly more difficult – we’re trying to add more quality than what we have or something different.

“That’s a little bit more tricky. I’m pretty convinced that we will add before the deadline closes.

“The most important thing is that when we get the right player and get them at a deal that is good for the club – that’s good recruitment. I’m pretty convinced that we will have one, if not two, in the building before the end of the window.”

In other news, Tottenham and West Ham have 'sent scouts' to watch a defender in a surprise transfer move.