Dundee United are set to seal the signing of Manchester City prospect Luke Bolton on a season-long loan, according to The Courier.
Bolton is expected to become Terrors manager Micky Mellon’s first senior signing since taking charge at Tannadice Park, as the Dundee United boss sets about forming his side for next season’s Scottish Premiership having been declared as the Championship winners.
Bolton will add a versatile wide option to Mellon’s side once the deal has been finalised, which reports have suggested could be as early as this week, as the 20-year-old is comfortable on either side of the field or at full-back.
The Stockport-born talent caught the eye when he was surprisingly fielded as a wing-back against Borussia Dortmund during Man City’s 2018 pre-season tour of the United States, as the England U20 international appeared completely unfazed despite his unfamiliar role.
Pep Guardiola has since named Bolton on the bench for one senior competitive fixture but is yet to award the £2.07m-rated youngster any minutes for the Citizens’ first-team, and instead sanctioned a loan move to Luton Town for the 2019/20 campaign.
He made 28 appearances across all competitions for Luton during his temporary spell at Kenilworth Road, in which Bolton provided two assists but failed to score.
Hatters boss David Wilkinson was also without the City academy graduate for his side’s final Championship fixtures after his loan deal was not extended to cover the postponed fixtures.
Does Bolton have a future at the Etihad Stadium?
Yes
No
Bolton’s expected move to Dundee United following their promotion into the Scottish Premiership will offer the winger potentially his final chance of proving himself to Guardiola, as the wide midfielder is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2022 – meaning he will return with 12-months to spare and potentially have a diminishing value.
Goals have never been easy to come by for Bolton during his professional career having only found the back of the net once, which he struck against Rochdale in the EFL Trophy.
Bolton also struggled to hold down his place in the Luton line-up while on loan at Kenilworth Road, where he started just ten times during the Championship campaign and mostly was tasked with playing at right-back.