Championship side Bolton Wanderers are closing in on the signing of Cardiff City’s Craig Noone, although a player will have to leave the Macron Stadium before he signs, reports HITC.

The 29-year-old moved to the Cardiff City Stadium all the way back in 2012 and played his part in the club’s historic promotion-winning campaign of 2012/13, with his seven goals and eight assists helping to inspire Malky Mackay’s side to the Championship title, and thus a place in the Premier League.

And the English midfielder has since appeared a further 138 times for the Bluebirds, netting 12 goals and laying on ten assists in the process, but just 17 league starts last season under Neil Warnock has highlighted his lowly position in the pecking order at the South Wales club.

And with Noone informed by the former Crystal Palace and Sheffield United manager that he can leave the club this summer, it is Phil Parkinson’s Bolton Wanderers who are leading the race for the midfielder, with recent reports suggesting that they have agreed a deal for the 29-year-old.

The Lancashire-based club returned to the Championship this season after finishing runners-up to Sheffield United in League One last time out, and have already found it tough going with no wins from their first five league games leaving them bottom of the division.

Yet bringing in much-needed Championship experience and attacking quality in Noone will surely aid in their quest to avoid the drop this term, although reports do suggest that Parkinson will have to let a Bolton player leave the club before securing a deal for the 29-year-old.

Thus, it looks set to be a busy deadline day at the Macron Stadium.

The Verdict: Craig Noone was hugely influential in helping Cardiff City win promotion to the Premier League back in 2013, and has since then been a regular feature in the Bluebirds side.

Yet just 17 starts last term and no league appearances at all this time round, alongside news that manager Neil Warnock is happy to let him leave, means that the 29-year-old’s time in South Wales is coming to an end after five years and 170 appearances.

And his next adventure could take him to the North West and Bolton Wanderers, who are in need of reinforcements after struggling to adapt to the rigours of the Championship, having failed to win any of their first five league matches.

But manager Phil Parkinson will have to do some tinkering with his squad to land Noone, although it’s a deal they must seek to complete today as the midfielder’s experience, expertise, and overall attacking endeavour would be seriously welcome at the Macron Stadium ahead of the remainder of the season.

Bolton and Cardiff fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!