Notts County will be desperate to repeat a 2017 transfer masterstroke this summer, in a move that saw them land Nottingham Forest youngster Ryan Yates on loan.
After crashing out of the League Two play-offs with a whimper at the semi-final stage, it could be a busy summer at Meadow Lane.
Stuart Maynard has already been relieved of his duties, and whenever Notts ultimately appoint a new boss, he will likely be supplied with plenty of resources to mould the squad in his image.
Several areas of the squad could use an upgrade, with addressing the midfield in particular likely towards the top of the Magpies’ summer transfer priorities.
If they could find a midfielder who could bring similar qualities to what Yates did for them back in the 2017/18 campaign, it could go a long way to solving the issues that they experienced in 2024/25.
Ryan Yates was excellent for Notts County when he arrived as a teenager
Yates instantly became a key player for Notts after making the switch across the Trent.
Kevin Nolan relied on the youngster to control the midfield battle for his side, and that was something that Yates excelled at, despite his tender age at the time.
The Liverpudlian boss described the then-19-year-old as a “leader” with “bags of potential” after an impressive debut in the EFL Cup, and that became even clearer the longer his stint at Meadow Lane wore on.
The Forest youngster provided crucial energy for Nolan’s side, who were one of the oldest squads in the fourth tier at the time. He also developed a knack for arriving late into the box to score crucial goals.
By the time his stint with the Magpies ended in early January, he had netted six times in 29 appearances, a very respectable return for someone who typically played as a relatively deep-lying midfielder.
Ryan Yates Notts County stats (as per Fotmob)
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
EFL League Two
25
3
–
FA Cup
3
2
1
EFL Cup
1
1
–
Total
29
6
1
Yates’ importance to Nolan’s side that season can be highlighted by the way their season tailed off after he departed the club.
When the midfielder was recalled by Forest and loaned to League One at the start of January, the Magpies were sitting in second place and were enjoying a run of just one defeat in their last 12 league games.
They had built a five-point gap between themselves and the fourth-placed side Exeter City by the time Yates left, but ultimately finished fifth and a distant seven points behind the final automatic promotion spot.
Yates’ qualities have been consistently evident throughout his career, and he has developed into a very reliable performer for Forest over the years. He is also part of an exclusive club of players to have scored in each of the top five tiers of English football.
Notts County should target a midfielder like Ryan Yates again as they prepare for League Two promotion push
With the way Notts’ midfield has been at times this season, they could certainly use a player who could bring similar qualities to Yates.
A powerful, commanding midfielder is something they have lacked all season, and if they could find someone with a youthful energy to their game, then that would be even better.
The Magpies’ midfield became too one-paced and measured throughout the season, and with star loanee George Abbott returning to Tottenham Hotspur, those issues are likely to be exacerbated even further if they are not addressed.
Club captain Matty Palmer is a classy operator at the level, but his game is much more suited to showing poise and calmness on the ball than it is closing people down and getting stuck into challenges.
If Notts could find somebody akin to Yates, it could provide a perfect foil for the former Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion man.
Adding a midfielder who plays with a combative style and can bring energy could go a long way towards improving Notts, both with and without the ball.
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