WANDERERS’ current firm financial footing means they go into the upcoming transfer window in a strong position, says manager Ian Evatt.

With four weeks until clubs are able to do business once again, speculation has already started to spread on whether in-form players like Ricardo Santos could attract interest from higher up the Football League in January.

Evatt is confident, however, that anything other than “silly” bids for his players will rejected in an effort to keep a strong squad together for a promotion push.

“If there’s any interest from elsewhere, I think it will be rebuffed,” he said of Santos. “He’s our player and this club, because of the ownership group, is in a very good financial position.

“We want to keep it that way if we get a bid for any of our players, it will be one where we get to decide the outcome. If we think it’s a silly offer, then we’ll look at it, if we don’t, then we won’t.”

Former Peterborough United man Santos is being increasingly viewed as Bolton’s biggest playing asset, having recovered from a difficult start to the season to become one of the side’s most consistent performers.

Evatt believes the 25-year-old can make progress up the footballing ladder in a Wanderers shirt but needs to prove himself over a much longer period of time.

“I watched him for two years at Barnet and my teams played against him, so I knew all about him and what he was capable of,” he said.

“Having those attributes as a centre back is very rare, especially as a lower league centre back. He’s a good age, an age where he’s still improving and he’s still got lots to learn, but he is receptive to that and he wants to learn, and he wants to improve.

“It took us time to figure him out and what will get the best out of him and all of a sudden, he’s grew in confidence, he’s grew in stature, he’s a leader in the group, which is important and he’s been fantastic but he has to keep going.

“One month does not make a season, two months does not make a season, he needs to put back-to-back-to-back-to-back performances together and put seasons back-to-back together to get where he wants to go and hopefully that is with us.”

Wanderers are looking to do some business in January and have room in both their budget and squad quota for more additions.

A long-term injury to Shaun Miller means at least one striker will be sought in January, with a goalkeeper also a possibility depending on whether Fleetwood want Billy Crellin to stay and fight for a spot beyond next month.

“We are proactive,” Evatt said. “We’re already looking ahead to the window and what’s available and what’s not and where we can do some business in terms of ins and outs.

“The most important thing for me is we try and improve the team, but first and foremost, we keep the club sustainable and we don’t overspend and gamble.

“We want to make sure we look after this football club moving forwards and that’s what we’ll be doing.”