Ian Evatt's firm transfer message to Championship sides eyeing Bolton duo Santos & Afolayan

Ian Evatt insists Bolton Wanderers do not have to sell players regardless of how much money they are offered this summer for any of their prized assets and vowed key duo Ricardo Almeida Santos and Dapo Afolayan are happy at the club.

Wanderers are poised for a top 10 finish in their first season back in League One and are set to strengthen the squad this summer.

Though Bolton want to add further additions in a bid to make a promotion charge next season, they are also seeking to retain some of their biggest assets.

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These include Santos and Afolayan, who have been two of the stars of the season at Wanderers, with the former becoming the club's captain and the latter the current top scorer with 14 goals.

Santos is under contract until the summer of 2023 and talks in earnest are planned in the weeks to come over extending that deal, while Afolayan is tied down on a deal until mid-2024.

Though Evatt knows full well that any player has a price and admits that a call may have to be made should offers come in for the likes of Afolayan or Santos, but he is not under any pressure to sell players.

And he believes that the grass is not always greener on the other side and that what Wanderers can offer and does offer the players must be born in mind, but that if any clubs do come calling then they will have to cough up big money.

Evatt said: “We don’t have to sell – and it doesn’t matter how much money clubs come to offer us, I will make the decision based on what is best for Bolton Wanderers. I am under no pressure from Sharon or the board to sell players to get money back in. We don’t need it and we’re in a great financial