WANDERERS face stiff competition if they are going to pull off an ambitious double transfer deal for Karamoko Dembele and John McAtee.

The Bolton News understands that Ian Evatt has targeted the attacking pair as the ideal additions to his squad as they aim to secure promotion to the Championship this season.

Significant bids have now been made to French club Brest and Luton Town, respectively, in the hope a deal can be done quickly, and the players integrated into the squad for the start of the League One campaign in just 31 days.

But in both cases Wanderers know they must fight off competition to land two statement-making signings.

Dembele impressed on loan at Blackpool last season but faces little chance of breaking back into a Brest side which qualified for the Champions League with a surprise third-placed finish in Ligue 1 and who play a direct and physical brand of football.

Despite being contracted to the summer of 2026, Brest owner Gregory Lorenzini was quoted by national sport newspaper L’Equipe in June saying he would not rejoin the club following the expiry of his loan at Bloomfield Road.

A queue of English clubs have since been linked with the 21-year-old but Brest have never confirmed his departure and Dembele was pictured in recent training footage, suggesting there has been a change of heart.

Karamoko Dembele in action for Blackpool against Wanderers' Eoin ToalKaramoko Dembele in action for Blackpool against Wanderers' Eoin Toal (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)

Bolton’s move has been viewed as a bold one, given he was expected to continue his career at a higher level, but the former Celtic man is seen as the perfect replacement for Paris Maghoma, who thrived on loan from Brentford last season, winning the club’s young player of the year award.

The Whites are understood to have other irons in the fire too, with attacking midfield slot one of the major areas in need of strengthening before the season kicks-off.

McAtee is currently away with the Luton squad on a pre-season training camp in Slovenia and came off the bench for the final nine minutes of yesterday’s friendly win against Ukrainian side Rukh Lviv.

The striker, who grew up in Walkden, has not played for the Hatters since he was signed by former manager Nathan Jones from Grimsby Town.

He spent a year back at Blundell Park, overcoming a shoulder injury to help them reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and establish themselves in League Two, then followed it up with a year in League One with Barnsley, scoring 13 goals in 40 appearances and helping them reach the play-off semi-finals.

He too has loan interest from elsewhere in League One plus the option of staying ad fighting for his place at Luton under Rob Edwards as they look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Once again, Wanderers are believed to have back-up plans if the move does not pan out, but the club is hoping to get a firm answer on both bids soon so they can continue their recruitment drive.

Meanwhile, Wanderers could lose teenage wing-back Wesley Frimpong to Austrian side LASK Linz, who is yet to sign a new contract extension at the Toughsheet Stadium.

The 19-year-old, who is brother of Bayer Leverkusen and Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong, was given a professional deal in 2023 and offered improved terms to continue developing in the B Team this season.

Reports yesterday claimed he was ready to turn down the offer and move to Austria to continue his career. Wanderers would claim compensation should he leave, having trained and taught the youngster from his mid-teens.