Ian Evatt believes Jon Dadi Bodvarsson will score goals at Bolton Wanderers once he is fully integrated into their system as the striker made a financial sacrifice to help make his move from Millwall a reality.
The Iceland international has completed a move from the Championship side on a free transfer and put pen to paper on a 18-month-deal at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The 29-year-old becomes the fifth signing of the January transfer window for Bolton following the permanent acquisitions of Charles and Aaron Morley, as well as the loan signings of Marlon Fossey and James Trafford.
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He is available for this Saturday's clash against Shrewsbury Town and could make his debut in the encounter in Shropshire.
The striker does not boast the most prolific record in front of goal so far in England, with three goals in 48 games for Wolves, 16 strikes in 56 matches for Reading, and seven goals in 76 games for the Lions.
Evatt has addressed that and believes that Wanderers play a different style to Bodvarsson's previous teams, as well as pointing out this will be his first spell in League One and that he offers flexibility and options in the final third.
Evatt said: “We have managed to strengthen that department significantly and what Jon gives us is that he can play through the middle as a nine but also in the wide areas if we switch formations. We have that fluidity now.
“He is experienced at 29 and been an international footballer at the highest level for a long time now.
"People might well look at his goal record but what they need to understand is that he hasn’t played at this low a level before, and secondly that he hasn’t played for us before. We create a lot of chances and that will be different to Millwall in the Championship or Reading, at times.
“We must judge him once he is in our system and knowing the way we play. I am confident he will come in and score goals for us."
The Bolton boss had previously highlighted the salary Bodvarsson was on at Millwall as a potential stumbling block to any deal.
But Bodvarsson is understood to have taken a significant cut in wages compared to what he had been earning at the Den to make the move to Bolton happen.
Bodvarsson also shares the same agent as Wanderers star Dapo Afolayan and Evatt believes though Bolton may not offer the highest wages, they tick a lot of other boxes when players choose to come to the club.
On Bodvarsson leaving behind a lucrative Millwall contract, Evatt said: “It speaks volumes. History has helped us out with this one, the number of Icelandic players we have had, and Jon admitted to me that he was a fan of Bolton growing up and watched a lot of their games. He understands the history and wants to buy into it.
“The owner, the way she does things, people in football will hear about that and want to be a part of it because it is different to the norm.
“The way we play, the facilities we have here, the area we are in, so many boxes can be ticked now and people want to be a part of it.
“Jon’s agent is the same as Dapo’s and we have proved that we are not just saying things, we do them, and that builds trust. He has helped us to get the conversations going and buy into the club.
“Whether we like them or not, agents are a big part of the game and you need them onside.
“I had a long career as a player and now as a manager and fundamentally you get to understand who the really good agents are, and I think Dapo’s agent, Simon Miotto, is a guy who wants the best for his players – that doesn’t always mean most pounds, it is what club is the best fit for them as players and people to help them thrive.
“At Bolton we might not tick the financial box but we tick a lot of others.
“The culture and environment we are trying to create here, from owners down, is brilliant to be a part of and these players want to be a part of it.”