Bolton Manager Owen Coyle Confirms Sebastien Le Toux Is On Trial

by Scott Kessler on Jan 19, 2012 8:35 AM EST in News

Sebastien Le Toux will have a week to impress the Bolton Wanderer's coaching staff, according to manager Owen Coyle. The Scot confirmed reports out of the United States that Le Toux was on his way to Bolton on a trial ahead of a possible transfer.

"We have received good reports about Sebastian, so we thought we would give him an opportunity to come into the group," said Coyle.

Sky Sports reports that Coyle denied there being a deal in place to acquire the 28-year-old. However, the manager did say that he was open to seeing what the Frenchman could do while at Reebok Stadium.

"He will train with us for a week," Coyle said, "and we will see where we are after that."

The Frenchman would be able to move to England without the need for a work permit process, something that has hindered Tim Ream's move to Bolton, due to having an European Union passport.

Ream's proposed move to the Wanderers is priced at around 2.6 million pounds, making the speculation surround Le Toux's possible transfer point towards a number like that one. The additions of Ream and Le Toux would give Bolton three former MLS players, with American international Stuart Holden already on the club's roster.

For the time being, Le Toux joins fellow Philadelphia Union player Michael Farfan in England. Farfan is currently training with Sunderland until January 25. Previously, Amobi Okugo, Freddy Adu, Zach Pfeffer and Zac MacMath have trained in Europe this offseason.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

talk about mixed emotions

I guess the “half-full” take would be that as a fan of Le Toux and the U, one can’t lose — either he takes a huge step, or he’s back with the Union. He’s such a stan-up guy that I can’t help but root for him to succeed, but if he doesn’t, another year of Le Toux (assuming he comes back) is a nice consolation prize.

by tmu on Jan 19, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

his work ethic alone

and his ability to run without getting tired will probably earn him a contract. Bon Jour Le Toux!

"I will never have my best season," Brian Dawkins

"Sometimes you have to kill the one you are with so you can be with someone better" William Shakespeare

"Nothing shows true love like delivering 16 stab wounds to the jugular" Henry Kissinger

by Talon Talent on Jan 19, 2012 4:21 PM EST reply actions

Le Toux making the move at the right time

Much like a top prospect leaving college early to enter the NBA or NFL draft, Le Toux has 2 seasons (or at least 1 1/2 seasons) worth of solid production under his belt and he’s caught the eye of a team in one of the top leagues in the world. Once he puts pen to paper, he’ll be in line to blow his current salary out of the water – let alone what he was making a few years ago with Seattle when he was in the USL. He leaves the Union on top, having factored directly in 46 of the 80 goals (including the first and only playoff goal) in the team’s short history.

The Union stand to reap a transfer fee that would easily cover the salaries of half the roster… and still have some leftover to pay the webmaster any overtime necessary to take Seba’s picture off of every piece of promotional material in the city. All of this avoids what would have been an awkward and messy fan relations situation at the end of the ‘12 season when his contract would run out and his price tag would exceed what the Union are willing to pay. The front office & Nowak don’t look bad for passing on him publicly a la Dawkins and the Eagles, supporters aren’t upset by Le Toux signing with a Montreal side that would love to have him, and we get to see the early face of the Philadelphia Union – and a genuinely nice guy – join a Premier League squad deeply mired in a relegation battle with matches against Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, and Spurs yet to come.

Win-win.

by mk_27 on Jan 19, 2012 9:42 PM EST reply actions