WANDERERS are said to be leading the chase to take powerful striker Kion Etete on loan from Cardiff City.

Sources in South Wales claim that a deal is close despite Bolton currently being managerless after the departure of Ian Evatt last week.

The 6ft 6ins striker has played just 63 times for the Bluebirds since signing from Tottenham in 2022 and is out of contract in the summer.

He has also been out for most of the season with a hamstring injury, appearing just once in the FA Cup win against Watford.

Etete came through the system at Notts County, making his debut against Newcastle United Under-21s in October 9, 2018. After a successful trial he then moved to Tottenham, earning a new deal in 2021, but he did not break through at first team level.

Spurs did send him out on two loan deals, firstly in League Two with Northampton Town and then a spell in League One with Cheltenham Town.

Cardiff paid around £500,000 to bring him to the Championship in the summer of 2022.

Wanderers have been looking to add physicality to their front line and had looked into bringing James Collins from Derby County while Evatt was still in charge.

A number of clubs have enquired about Etete but Wales Online claim Bolton are his most likely destination.

It now remains to be seen whether transfer targets which were established under the previous manager will be picked up by the next man in charge.

Bolton hope to make an appointment by the end of the week, with former Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher widely regarded to be at the front of the queue.