WANDERERS have NOT made an approach to bring Paris Maghoma back from Brentford, The Bolton News understands.

Rumours spread around social media over the past couple of days that Ian Evatt was lining up a move for the midfielder, who was voted Bolton’s young player of the year last season.

An ambiguous tweet on the player’s social Twitter/X account which read: “Irreplaceable” seemed to light the touchpaper but we understand there has been no approach for the 23-year-old and that Brentford are looking to loan him out to a Championship club this season.

Maghoma played 50 games for Wanderers last season, scoring nine goals, but limped out of the play-off final at Wembley with an ankle injury from which he is still recovering.

Evatt had hoped promotion would give Bolton a good chance to sign him on a permanent basis but speaking less than an hour after the defeat to Oxford United he admitted there was little prospect of the move going through.

“It is going to be difficult to sign Paris now we are stuck in League One,” he told us. “That is just how it is.

“We are thankful for him, thankful for what he has achieved this season, and we wish him well.”

Maghoma did send a message to the Bolton fans after the play-off final, thanking them for their support.

He wrote: “I’m not sure where to even begin, the game on Saturday has truly broken my heart. We didn’t give you the performance that you deserved. You’ve cheered us on this season, you’ve been our 12th man. You’ve helped us push through and on the most important day, we couldn’t deliver and for that I am sorry.

“This season, playing for this amazing club has been the best year of my life. You’ve treated me like family, from the staff, the players and you fans. It’s been nothing but a joy playing at the Toughsheet. I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it, the highs and also the lows.

“Because of the tremendous love I’ve been shown, on Saturday after the first minute I knew that I couldn’t give up. I knew I had to try and fight and do everything in my power to carry on. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t. I really wanted to end the season on a high but I guess God had something else planned.

“Next season, Bolton are going to need its fans to support, cheer and push the team through so I ask that you stick with the club, keep the belief, be the anchor and help the club get promotion into the Championship.

“Bolton, you have a very special place in my heart. I’ve made memories and friends that I will cherish for life. Once a Wanderer, always a Wanderer.”