Bolton Wanderers are preparing to make a £500,000 offer in order to sign striker Joe Garner from Ipswich Town, according to The Sun.
Garner’s season came to a premature end last campaign after he suffered a fractured skull in March which ruled him out for the remainder of Ipswich’s fixtures.
However, the former Rangers man has now returned to full fitness and Trotters boss Phil Parkinson is keen on a move for the Tractor Boys striker.
Garner scored 10 goals for the East Anglian club last season before his injury and had built up a good partnership alongside Martyn Waghorn.
Waghorn has received heavy interest from both Middlesbrough and Birmingham in the transfer window, and new Town boss Paul Hurst will not want to lose his top two strikers.
Bolton prolonged their Championship status in spectacular fashion last season as they came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest on the final day.
After Gary Madine’s £6m move to Cardiff City in January, Bolton lacked a goalscorer and the Trotters failed to replace him in the transfer window.
Phil Parkinson has made that a priority this summer, and has a firm interest in making Garner a Bolton player come the start of the season.
It is understood that Garner is keen on a move back to his home county of Lancashire, after spending three years with Preston North End.
Bolton have already signed Clayton Donaldson this summer, but the target man is unlikely to provide the goals to save Bolton from the drop.
Garner would be an astute and clever signing by Phil Parkinson, who would provide the goals that have been missing since Gary Madine’s departure from the Macron Stadium.
