Swindon Town have already admitted that they need to improve on their defence for next season

This summer, Swindon have already admitted that they need to improve on their defence for next season, which saw them concede more goals than anyone else in the top half of League Two.

Whilst those improvements must come from all over the field, as there will be an increased emphasis on pressing next season, bringing in better defenders will be part of the equation, especially as only two are under contract at the moment.

This summer, I will be taking the hypothetical role of Director of Football at Swindon, and looking at potential options to improve the squad.

Partner for Ryan Tafazolli

Whilst it is not yet clear whether Swindon will operate with a back three or back four next season, it is evident that they will need to add a starting centre-back who can complement Tafazolli. Among the 26 different centre-back combinations Town fielded last season, none was used more than Tafazolli and Jamie Knight-Lebel in a back four, and finding someone of his style would be a natural choice.

One option could be former Gillingham man Shadrach Ogie, who departed at the end of last season after making 99 appearances in Kent.

At 24, he fits the focus on players who are still in their prime but with experience, and he has always looked good against Swindon.

Possessing both physical robustness and pace, he seems like a good option to go alongside Tafazolli, as he ranked in the top five per cent of League Two centre-backs for duels won, percentage of duels won, and percentage of aerial duels won per 90 minutes last season, demonstrating his combative nature.

Under Gareth Ainsworth, he was not asked to be much of a ball-player, but if Swindon want a defender-first, then he would be ideal either as a left-side centre-back in a three or in a four.

Another option could be Luke Offord, who just left Milton Keynes Dons. He would be best in a back three, as he is only six foot, but he is a very good defender, ranking in the top 20 per cent for duels won and aerial duels won last season.

But he also has pace and the ability to make things happen with the ball, often driving forwards and contributing in the final third on the right side of a back three.

Man mountain

One of the key lessons of last season must be that there cannot be an overreliance on Tafazolli, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Swindon will need a ready-made replacement to help ease the burden on him. Whilst this could be Filozofe Mabete, last season proved that you can never have too much aerial dominance.

29-year-old Zak Jules left Rotherham United following their relegation, but has played four straight seasons of consistent League One football, and could be a valuable addition.

At six-foot-two, he has the size, and ranked in the top 20 per cent for aerial duels won in League One last season, and is a very aggressive defender, also being in the top 20 per cent for defensive contributions, interceptions, blocks, recoveries, and clearances.

Another choice could be Offord’s MK Dons teammate Laurence Maguire, who, much like his brother, Harry Maguire, loves an aerial battle. On a per-90-minute basis, no League Two defender won more aerial duels than him last season, and he was in the top four per cent for win rate.

He only played seven times for a team that won promotion last season, meaning he could be more amenable to being an understudy to Tafazolli.