Notts County could be in for a difficult summer as they look to retain the linchpin of their strikeforce, Alassana Jatta.
The Gambian attacker was the subject of interest from the likes of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Bolton in January, but ultimately remained at Meadow Lane, with the Magpies reportedly having rejected a bid of £750,000 from the Pilgrims.
It is understood that Stuart Maynard’s side were holding out for at least £1 million and it would be no surprise to see a similar stance return in the summer.
This may not be enough to deter these clubs on this occasion, and it would be no surprise if the attacker were to leave Meadow Lane in the next transfer window. Should that happen, County will be in the market for a new striker, and at Football League World, we have identified two ideal replacements for the 26-year-old.
Macaulay Langstaff
A sentimental but brilliant option is Macaulay Langstaff.
The striker left County in the summer to sign for Millwall in a deal worth £750,000, but has struggled to replicate the form he showed in England’s lower tiers in the Championship.
In total, he has scored just one goal in 29 Championship appearances – a far cry from his tally of 28 in 46 matches in League Two last season. Remarkably, that wasn’t even his best campaign for the Magpies, as the year before, he had netted a ridiculous 42 goals in 47 appearances in the National League.
This would certainly be an optimistic return for Langstaff, but given his struggles for game time at The Den, he is likely to be moved on – either on loan or permanently – this summer. A number of League One clubs would surely be interested, and for a move back to County to be realistic, they will need to secure promotion this season.
However, if they do reach League One, they would likely have the advantage, with the striker almost certain to slot straight back in at Meadow Lane.
His goalscoring far outweighs what Jatta has produced and this could only be seen as an upgrade if he was to return.
Robert Street
A viable option for Stuart Maynard, regardless of what division they are in, is Robert Street.
The 23-year-old striker came through the ranks at Crystal Palace’s academy and, before making a permanent move away from Selhurst Park, had loan spells at Torquay United, Newport County, and Shrewsbury Town.
Since then, he has gone on to play for Cheltenham Town and Lincoln City, before joining Doncaster Rovers on loan from the latter in January for the remainder of the season.
At Rovers, he has scored seven goals in 15 League Two appearances and it finally seems that he is finding his form in front of goal.
Beyond that, he is a tireless runner, constantly pressuring the defence to win the ball back or earn a foul in the attacking third. This is clearly reflected in his statistics, with the striker winning possession in the final third at least once per game and drawing 2.03 fouls every 90 minutes, according to FotMob.
Currently under contract until 2028Â at the LNER Stadium, it would take a significant offer to secure him permanently. However, the Imps may be more open to a loan move, and if County remain in League Two, this could very well be a viable option.
Street is a very different type of striker to Jatta or Langstaff, but what he brings to the table could provide the dynamic that Maynard’s side is arguably lacking.
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