Macaulay Langstaff’s time at Millwall has not exactly gone to plan, and supporters must be wondering where the goals have gone for the 28-year-old.
His £700k move from Notts County in the summer was one that was extremely exciting for the Lions, and there were hopes that he could continue his form from League Two and the National League into the Championship, but that has not happened.
Nevertheless, fans of the Magpies will still be reminiscing about his incredible two years with the club, as he helped them win promotion back to the EFL through the play-offs in 2023, before they enjoyed a steady first year back in the fourth tier.
The decision to sign Langstaff in 2022 was an excellent one by Luke Williams, and Football League World has taken a look at how much each goal he scored for the East Midlands outfit cost.
Notts County got more than their money’s worth with Macaulay Langstaff
The striker had an unbelievable season with Gateshead the year before joining Notts County, as he scored 28 goals in 39 National League North games as the Tynesiders returned to the top division in the non-league system.
It was a campaign that allowed Langstaff to take that next step, and join a club fighting at the top of the fifth tier, with the Magpies securing a deal worth just £50k for the services of the current Championship player.
He hit the ground running at Meadow Lane, scoring 41 goals in 45 league matches as his team remarkably finished second on 107 points, as Wrexham secured the title and automatic promotion to League Two with 111 points.
The top two were in a class of their own throughout 2022/23, and having a forward as prolific as Langstaff was vital to their push for first. While they narrowly missed out to the Red Dragons, they were able to beat Chesterfield on penalties in the play-off final to end their four-year stay in the National League.
He continued to be prolific in the EFL, finding the back of the net 28 times, while also scoring in the FA Cup one.
| Macaulay Langstaff Notts County stats per season (TransferMarkt) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| 2022/23 | 47 | 41 | 7 |
| 2023/24 | 49 | 29 | 4 |
With 70 goals to his name in just 96 matches, Notts County more than got their money’s worth with Langstaff, with each of his strikes costing just £714.29 – a figure that would be hard to match by anyone.
Luke Williams hit the jackpot with Macaulay Langstaff at Notts County
With Wrexham’s financial backing, Notts County had to be smart with their money in the 2022/23 campaign and their ex-talisman is a true example of finding quality for a low fee.
Williams had a remarkable time in charge at Meadow Lane, and he should be commended for his decisions – particularly in the transfer market, as Notts County reversed the damage of their relegation in 2019.
They failed in the play-offs in the three previous seasons, but getting that goalscorer was crucial, and they reaped the rewards by selling him for a profit of £650k in the summer.
While he has not lit up the Championship in a similar way, the Magpies may be in a good position to try and loan Langstaff back in at the end of this season as they target promotion to League One.
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