Bolton must seal a summer swoop for 25-year-old Hull City left-back Max Clark.

What's the talk?

According to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, Bolton are looking at Hull City left-back Max Clark as a transfer target to potentially replace Declan John. Nixon has claimed that Bolton could make a move for Clark if they fail to bring John back to the club following the end of his loan spell from Championship outfit Swansea.

Bolton's League One rivals Fleetwood are also interested in the former Vitesse defender. Clark is poised to leave Hull at the end of the month upon the expiry of his contract, making him a free agent heading into the summer transfer window.

Clark joined Hull in January on a short-term deal and Grant McCann heaped praise on the left-back, who he claimed has a “great” character. He told Hull's official website:

"Max's arrival gives us really good competition at left back with him and Callum (Elder). It was an area we needed to look at with the unfortunate injury to Brandon (Fleming).

"He's a really good player and a great character. He fits exactly what we're after in-terms of characters we want at this football club.

"His stats speak for themselves in terms of what he's done at Vitesse. He can get forward well, cross balls and create chances, but can also defend really well too.

"He's a Hull boy and a Hull City fan so we're delighted to have him here."

Bye-Bye John

Bolton should wave bye-bye to John and allow the left-back to find another move away from Swansea this summer instead of pursuing him further. John was a solid performer for Bolton in League Two, but Evatt could improve his squad by bringing in Clark instead of the Welshman. Both players are set to be available on free transfers this summer, with John's contract at Swansea running out this month and they are both 25-years-old, which means that it should purely come down to who the better player is out of the two.

Prior to the 2020/21 campaign, Clark enjoyed two impressive seasons with Vitesse in the Eredivisie. Clark averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.80 in 26 appearances during his debut year for the Dutch side, before managing an excellent score of 7.11 in the 2019/20 season - showing off his quality at left-back in the top division of Dutch football.

Meanwhile, John averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.75 in 21 appearances in League Two for Bolton and has a dismal career WhoScored rating of 6.39 across his time with Cardiff, Swansea and Bolton. This suggests that Clark is the superior player at left-back, as he has performed to a higher standard than John whilst also playing in a tougher competition - given that Clark played in a top European league and John featured in the fourth division of English football.

The £8k-per-week beast, Clark, has also previously proven himself at Championship level. Clark averaged a superb WhoScored rating of 7.03 in 27 Championship appearances for Hull in the 2017/18 season. He racked up 2.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game that season, showing that he has the ability to play at Championship level, which is a step above where Bolton will be playing next term.

He should be the man who Wanderers make a move for, Evatt would surely prefer to have him ahead of John.

AND in other news, Bolton confirm major news about “talented” £3.5k-p/w beast, fans should be delighted...