Couldn’t sleep so thought I would play Chris Casper and go through the players I found on the various released/retained lists on the BBC Sport website, along with a couple who have yet to sign a new deals or would be available for a nominal fee. Most of which have experience in L1/2 or National League level and I deliberately went for attack minded players.
I found 25 players all under 26 that would be available to Salford and would replace the 9 players who have left(inc. Ndaba and Kelly). I would also listen to offers for Eastman, Morris, McAleny to free up space for some less injury prone players.
Below are the 9 players I would go look at to strengthen the squad:
Reece Devine 20 - LB released by United, on loan at Walsall last season.
Fraser Horsfall 25 - Northampton, CB wanted by L1 sides
Brennan Camp 21 - CB released from Bournemouth
Davis Keillor-Dunn 24 - ATT MID released by Oldham ‘17 goals last season for OAFC’
Luke Molyneux 24 - WIN Contract about to expire @ Hartlepool
Dylan Levitt 21 - CM released by United, Dundee Utd fans POTS last season
Callum Whelan 20 - CM released by United
Dom Telford 25 - FWD Newport can’t get him to sign a new deal, L2 top scorer 21/22
Kyle Wooton 24 - FWD Notts County, wanted by L2/L1 clubs - 19 in 43 last season.
This would create a squad of 26 (granted 5 would be under 21 so not on the official list of 25), this would leave room for a couple of loans in. My initial thought would be for a defensive midfielder.
Below is the squad composition based on the above:
GK - Tom King, Joel Torrance
DEF - Ibou Touray, Jason Lowe, James Melhado, Ash Eastman, Jordan Turnbull, Donald Love, Kevin Berkoe, Theo Vassell, (Reece Devine- LB), (Fraser Horsfall-CB), (Brennan Camp - CB)
MID - Ryan Watson, Matty Lund, Josh Morris, Conor McAleny, Liam Shephard, Kelly N’Mai, (Davis Keillor-Dunn - ATT MID), (Luke Molyneux - W), (Dylan Levitt - MID)
(Callum Whelan - CM)
ATT - Luke Bolton, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Matt Smith, Marcus Dackers, (Dom Telford - FWD), (Kyle Wooten - FWD)
Appreciate this is a bit Football Manager, but the point is the club could build a squad capable of challenging for the automatics by being ambitious. Yes there are the likes of Connor Washington, Berahino, Wickham, Izzy Brown, Callum O’Dowda or a James Chester types available but they would just be the usual over 30s or sketchy injury history type players we are a custom to.
This summer will be a tough transfer market. Stockport, Bradford, Stevenage have gone off like a train with their recruitment and if Wrexham come up it will get even harder - because they will spend.
To have back to back successful transfer windows is tough at all levels. Next season will be harder than the last and as it stands I can’t see us taking the leap into the playoffs or beyond.
Ultimately all I want is a competitive squad that can stay the course and give the supporters some memories this season. Especially if it is the last at Moor Lane.