Why Bolton Should Go All Out To Sign Lens Striker Habib Habibou
Newly promoted Bolton Wanderers of the Championship are interested in bringing in Lens striker Habib Habibou. Habibou was promised a release from Lens if they failed to get promotion to Ligue1, and with that now the case, the man from the Central African Republic is free to choose a new club.
Habibou is 30 years old now and has quite a strong past in the game, having started out with French giants Paris Saint Germain. He went on to play in Belgium, France, Turkey and of course in England with Leeds United and is looking for a return to the UK this summer.
Habibou remained in good form after signing for Lens at the turn of the year, scoring 6 goals in 13 games for them down in Ligue2 but if he is to play second tier football, then he’d rather wish it was in a stronger nation with the former Premier League side his preferred destination now.
The centre-forward has played most of his football in Belgium, managing 147 games in the Jupiler Pro League and scoring 48 times. Altogether, Habibou either scored or made a goal once every 133 minutes in Belgian league football which is a fair record and one which he could replicate in the Championship.
If Bolton Wanderers are to compete this season in what looks like an open league, then they need attacking options. Good defenders, including John Terry and those signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers are now littering the league and so the key difference in teams having a great year or an average year could be their strikers.
Bristol City could actually have been relegated last season without Tammy Abraham and Newcastle would not have won the league without Dwight Gayle. So a proper goal scorer’s value cannot be underestimated at this level.
Adam LeFondre has arrived on a free transfer from Cardiff City but in truth, he has been sliding down the football ranks somewhat in recent times, while Gary Madine and youngster Connor Hall are the only other strikers on the books at the Macron Stadium.
Wanderers need fresh meat in this position and fast. So bringing in a proven goal scorer with tons of experience in various leagues would surely mean no settling-in period and a guaranteed 10-15 goals at league level. Given that he only played 4 Championship games the last time he was in the country, it’s hard to judge his English form. But Bolton need to move quickly to secure the African’s services.