Bolton Wanderers are close to signing former Colchester United goalkeeper Sam Walker, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.

The former Chelsea trainee left the Essex club at the end of the season, after a six-year spell.

Walker played in a behind-closed-doors friendly for his potential new suitors over the weekend with Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson set to run the rule over the stopper in more upcoming friendlies.

The 26-year-old turned down a new deal at the Western Homes Community Stadium and will now be looking for a new club with Bolton in prime position for his signature.

Walker knows Parkinson well from their time at Colchester together when the latter was the manager of the League Two side.

Bolton are in the market for a goalkeeper after allowing Ben Amos to sign for Millwall on a season-long loan.


The Verdict

Walker to Bolton makes perfect sense.

Both the manager and player know each other, and it would be a reasonably low-risk acquisition for the Lancashire side.

Parkinson needs a goalkeeper to fill the void left by Ben Amos, and as Walker is a free agent, the cost is relatively low.

It makes perfect business sense considering Bolton’s well-documented money issues.

Walker wants to test himself at a higher level having played in the bottom two tiers of English football for the majority of his career since leaving Chelsea.

This is an opportunity to play Championship football with a manager he is familiar with.

The transfer makes total sense whatever way you look at it.