IAN Evatt has confirmed that Wanderers have bid £1million-plus for up to four different players in the current transfer window.

The Bolton boss, who has been strongly linked with moves for Brest midfielder Karamoko Dembele, Luton Town attacker John McAtee and Kilmarnock wing-back Danny Armstrong, has hinted for the first time that he may have to move on to other targets if progress is not made soon.

Evatt revealed he recently lost out on one of the top names on his shortlist but has ‘live’ bids for a number of players, some of which are involved in European competition over the next week.

With a month to go in the window and just over a fortnight until the start of the League One season, time is not on Bolton’s side as they seek to bring in high-calibre talent without spending irresponsibly.

And Evatt admits the chase could go right down to the wire.

“It’s possible,” he told The Bolton News. “In this window we have made three or four seven-figure bids for players, which is a huge statement for us. But we are trying to sign players who have a high ceiling and who we think are still good value at those figures.

“Obviously, the clubs they are at value them higher at the moment and we might have to draw a line in the sand and stick to our principles, see what develops as the window goes on.

“Things are changing daily at the moment, things that are going in a positive direction, things that aren’t, but that’s just the transfer window.

“We have to be patient to bring in what we want. We have a clear plan and idea what that looks like and we’ll work hard to make sure it happens.”

Evatt hopes to have a clearer picture on a couple of potential signings once qualifiers for the Europa League and Conference League have taken place.

He remains upbeat that some business can be done in time for the start of the new season but insists that the club’s methodical approach in the market is the right move.

“We know what we want to do, who we want to bring in,” he said. “The board have been incredible, making significant finance available for us – the biggest budget I have had since I have been here. We just have to make sure we get the right ones in.

“To be honest, we don’t tend to spin lots of plates. We have tried to ear-mark who we want and go after them. We have made our stance pretty clear.

“We lost out on one, who went to a top Championship team, and that is probably the first time we have lost out on a player since I have been here. We have to swallow that, take it, but it is the calibre of player we are going after, those who are better than this level and ready to play in the next one should we get there.

“There are things evolving all the time but we are in a pretty positive place. Once we get the injuries back, get one or two through the door who are starting to move, then come the start of the season people will be pretty comfortable with where we are at.”