Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City are both firmly focused on securing promotion from League One as the 2025/26 season approaches its decisive stages. Each club remains determined to close the gap on second-placed Cardiff City, with the ultimate goal of earning a return to the Championship. Despite strong competition, both sides have consistently remained in the top-six positions for much of the campaign, keeping their promotion ambitions alive.
Under the guidance of Steven Schumacher and Graham Alexander, Bolton and Bradford have enjoyed impressive spells throughout the season. Bradford, in particular, surprised many observers by emerging early on as serious contenders for automatic promotion, especially considering they had only just been promoted from League Two. However, as the season progressed, their form became less consistent, causing them to lose some momentum.
Even so, Bradford recently regained third place following an important comeback victory against Wycombe Wanderers on Easter Monday. That result pushed them just ahead of Bolton by a single point, intensifying the rivalry between the two promotion hopefuls. Meanwhile, Bolton face a crucial upcoming fixture against Cardiff City, which could significantly impact the standings.
Bolton have found it frustrating that they have not been able to fully capitalize on Cardiff’s recent dip in form. Cardiff once looked set to dominate the league and secure the title, but a run of inconsistent performances has allowed Lincoln City to take over at the top of the table. Despite this, Cardiff still holds an advantage, with a game in hand over both Bolton and Bradford, and maintains a points cushion of seven and eight respectively. Bolton’s recent struggles—winning just one of their last five matches—have further complicated their push for automatic promotion.
Amid this competitive backdrop, both Bolton and Bradford have turned their attention toward strengthening their squads ahead of next season. A key name attracting significant interest is Exeter City’s rising star, Jayden Wareham. The young forward has enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough season and is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after players in League One.
Wareham, who joined Exeter City from Reading last summer, has delivered an impressive return in his debut campaign. He has scored 18 league goals and 21 goals across all competitions in 49 appearances, showcasing both consistency and attacking prowess. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Bolton and Bradford among several clubs closely monitoring his progress.
However, any potential move for Wareham may depend heavily on whether Bolton or Bradford succeed in achieving promotion. In addition to interest from League One clubs, several lower-tier Championship teams are also reportedly keeping tabs on the 22-year-old striker. These clubs may attempt to secure his signature, particularly if they manage to retain their Championship status.
Given the growing level of interest, a competitive bidding situation for Wareham could develop during the summer transfer window. His reputation continues to rise, especially after a recent standout performance in which he scored twice in Exeter’s convincing 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers.
Both Bolton and Bradford have clear reasons for targeting a player like Wareham. While Bolton have benefited from Sam Dalby’s contributions in recent months, their overall attacking output has been inconsistent. Mason Burstow remains their top scorer, but his goal tally has stagnated since October, highlighting the need for additional firepower.
Bradford, on the other hand, have relied more on a collective approach to scoring goals rather than depending on a single prolific striker. Midfielders Bobby Pointon and Antoni Sarcevic have each contributed ten goals, demonstrating their importance to the team’s attacking play. However, the club’s main strikers have not been as effective. Stephen Humphreys and Will Swan have scored only seven and five goals respectively, while loan signings Paul Mullin and Ethan Wheatley have yet to make an impact in front of goal since arriving in January.
This lack of a consistent, high-scoring striker makes Wareham an especially attractive option for both clubs. His ability to lead the line and deliver goals regularly is evident, as he has been responsible for approximately 40% of Exeter City’s league goals this season. Even though Exeter’s league status for next season remains uncertain, Wareham’s individual performances have clearly demonstrated his quality at this level.
As the season draws to a close, attention will not only be on the promotion race but also on the transfer battle that could follow. With Bolton and Bradford competing both on the pitch and potentially in the transfer market, it will be fascinating to see which club gains the upper hand—whether in securing promotion or in winning the race to sign one of League One’s standout talents.
