Ben Alnwick commits future to Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ben Alnwick has ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year deal on Wednesday. The shot-stopper, who picked up a clean sweep of accolades at the end-of-season awards, has extended his future at the Macron Stadium despite apparent interest from former club Sunderland.

Back in April, Alnwick suggested that he was in negotiations regarding a fresh deal with the Trotters and the 31-year-old has now finally put the question to bed. Speaking on the club’s official website, he said:"We’ve been talking about the contract for a while now. Once I was able to come down, I was absolutely over the moon to get it signed. It was always the plan to get my future sorted out early and it was a no-brainer to stay here. It was all I wanted to do from the end of the season. I’ve been knocking on the door all the way through the season to get a new contract because I love it here. I’m settled and it’s somewhere I always wanted to stay."

Alnwick had been in a straight fight with Mark Howard for the shot-stopper’s role last term and he managed to establish himself as the regular over the course of the campaign. As such, he is certain to start next season as the club’s number one whilst Howard is expected to leave the club at the expiry of his contract next month.

Bolton manager Phil Parkinson had faced the difficulty of pursuing players with the club’s financial constraints last term but the former Bradford boss is expected to be provided a decent kitty to spend on players this summer.

With the budget, the priority remains to recruit a new marksman considering the club happened to struggle after the departure of Gary Madine last term. Veteran strikers Adam Le Fondre and Aaron Wilbraham were hugely influential towards Bolton preserving their Championship status last season.