WANDERERS are confident of keeping hold of top scorer Gary Madine in January, should Sunderland come calling.
Reports on Wearside claimed yesterday new Black Cats boss Chris Coleman was ready to tempt the 27-year-old target man to the Stadium of Light when the transfer window reopens.
No contact has yet been made and sources at Wanderers have cast significant doubt on whether Sunderland would have the necessary spending power to make them consider a deal.
Madine has scored six goals – matching his return for the whole 2015/16 campaign in the Championship – and signed a new two-year deal in the summer.
Born close to Gateshead, he is also a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of Sunderland's bitter rivals, Newcastle United.
Madine becomes the second Whites star linked with a move elsewhere this week, after reports claimed Leeds United, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County were seeking to sign home-grown midfielder Josh Vela.
That rumour has also been played down strongly from within the club.
Meanwhile, news on potential disciplinary action for Phil Parkinson is expected to be announced by the Football Association later today.
The Wanderers boss sent documentation to an independent committee over the weekend which gave his account of the incident in the first half of the 5-1 defeat at Wolves.
It seems likely a one or two-game touchline ban could be imposed, which would come into effect at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Wanderers are looking for their first league win in 16 years at the City Ground and will be faced with former striker Zach Clough, who was sold just over 12 months ago in a deal worth an initial £2.5million.
The striker – who had been on Bolton’s books from the age of eight – has made just four starts for Mark Warburton’s side this season, one of which was in the EFL Cup, and has failed to hit the back of the net once.
Former team-mate Mark Beevers is looking forward to the prospect of facing the Tameside-born 22-year-old, and reckons he will be frustrated by the lack of football he has had thus far.
“He hasn’t played as much football as he would have liked, he’s definitely the kind of kid who wants to be in the team every week, so I’m sure he’s disappointed with that,” he told The Bolton News.
“If he’s happy town there, good luck to him. It will be good to see him again, he’s a good lad.”
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