Here’s some thoughts on who may leave and who may come into the Port Vale squad over the summer months.
With the Valiants returning to League One after a successful season in League Two, all eyes now turn to the summer transfer market and the retained list. We take a look at some things we suspect may happen…
Expected exits
Expected exitsThere’s likely to be moves away from the club for some out of contract players. Defender Dan Jones, on loan at Gateshead all season, looks very likely to go while midfielder Ethan Chislett also looks a strong contender to leave. Summer signing Diamond Edwards and youngster Andrew Buah may both struggle to net a new contract and veteran Jason Lowe may also call time on his Vale career.
Predictions: Dan Jones, Ethan Chislett, Diamond Edwards, Andrew Buah and Jason Lowe to be released.
New deals
New dealsMeanwhile, there are other players out of contract who will be expected to be offered new terms. The list includes long-standing defender Nathan Smith, wingbacks Mitch Clark and Kyle John plus defender Jesse Debrah. We expect all of them to be offered contracts. The future of Tom Sang and Rakeem Harper looks less certain. Would both be an asset in League One or will they be let go?
Predictions: New deals for Nathan Smith, Mitch Clark, Kyle John and Jesse Debrah. Tom Sang and Rakeem Harper to be released.
Deals for loan players?
Deals for loan players?The majority of Vale’s loan players are on long-term contracts apart from Villa midfielder Rico Richards. The youngster is out of contract in the summer and has impressed with his skill and goal threat when coming on as a sub. If Chislett departs would Vale see a move for Richards as the natural replacement? Another possibility is a move for keeper Nathan Broome. Vale are in the market for a back-up stopper but Broome still has a year on his Swansea contract. Has Broome impressed enough in training to prompt Vale to make a move?
Prediction: a possible Vale approach for Rico Richards on a permanent deal?
Outgoing loans?
Outgoing loans?Midfielder Funso Ojo still appears to be out of favour despite a year remaining on his contract. Would another season-long loan move be the best for both parties? It seems likely, unless a permanent move elsewhere can be agreed. There’s also a question mark over Ruari Paton, who spent half of last season at Dundee United. Paton still has some years left on his contract. Unless Vale get a bid from another club the likelihood is he will return to the fold as cover and competition for Stockley and Tolaj. Any other loans are likely to involve giving game time to younger professionals.
Prediction: a loan or permanent move away for Funso Ojo.
Priority signings
Priority signingsAway from the players involved last season, it seems new additions are needed in a couple of key areas. Firstly, as previously mentioned, goalkeeping cover or competition for Ben Amos is a must. If Nathan Broome is not an option then Vale must look elsewhere. In addition, Vale only have Debrah, Smith, Heneghan and Hall as recognised central defenders. Two of them are out of contract and there may also be question marks about all of the quartet’s ability to perform consistently in League One. Surely, at least one more central defender should be on the shopping list? Presuming out of contract players sign, then the midfield and wingback roles look relatively well stocked but another forward, perhaps on loan, to provide competition, would seem sensible.
Prediction: we can definitely see a new goalkeeper and at least one defender coming in the summer.
Interest in Vale players
Interest in Vale playersFinally, a successful promotion side may prompt some interest from bigger clubs. We imagine that Lorent Tolaj’s form has caught the eye but we suspect that ambitious Vale will turn down any approaches. There could also be interest in hugely talented teenager Jack Shorrock. If the club receive an eye watering bid for the teenager then, like the six figure deal for Baylee Dipepa, they may struggle to turn it down. However, we suspect only a big bid will cause Vale to sell.
Prediction: no outcomings unless the money is too good to refuse.
Reasonable or a load of nonsense? We welcome your comments on these predictions.
Thanks.
Useful overview.
I think Walters might be snapped up by a bigger club.
I’m also less convinced about the midfield strength in depth given we have two injury prone players.
Ideally, all areas need strengthening.
Up front, we need another decent striker.
The defence needs a player much better than we currently have.
It’s a really difficult one regarding Nathan, is he good enough for league 1? Heart says yes to a new deal but head says no. Thoughts on a postcard please.
I think we need 2 more strikers and 2 more defenders to complete in division 1
Why should Chislett be released he is a well balanced player who we need. Tang, Ojo, Jones, Diamond free to go. Paton, Walters we need, so central defender and striker required. Not sure about Nathan Smith but would be a decent back up.
Ken, my article is not saying he SHOULD be released just that I predict he WILL.
Y or oh Y we still asking questions about Nathan ( captain heart on sleeve ) Smith nearing 400 apps for the club. He didn’t play for 1st half of the season- Mystery , but after that Mr Dependable. Keep Walters, although I lov Chiss letting is the vest thing 4 him and the club and we might a fee for a good such as him . Add a Defender, midfield and striker and also keep the y oh y unsed in my Opinion League 1 player Ronan Curtis…..✔️⚽️.
Rob there seems to be in the background between Chizzy and the manager. It was strange the manager said that Chizzy had a hamstring problem put.unused on the bench and the hammy problem strange manager comment.
Great read and agree with most said
However let’s be honest, we have a good nucleus of around 7 to 8 players who when fit are a shoe in to start, unless Mr Moore spins the wheel of fortune! In my view we need a starting keeper, at least 1 centre half and Cover for the injury prone Byers and Ben g and a centre forward with track record at league 1 level ie 15 goals a season. This won’t be cheap but if we fortify these areas we can be a force next season. Hopefully we give Ruari a chance to shine and if we can get Rico to stay that would be a positive also.
Think should part with harper, debrah, hackford, deffo keep chislett, sang, richards need a top defender and a dribbler for midfield n anothe forward player
Chizzy obviously out of favour so surely will leave. Like Rico as his surging runs offer something different. Agree another prolific striker needed, hope Paton can step up. Also an upgrade on centre half. Liked Dimitri from Crewe, apologies on trying to spell his name. Looks like a ball playing centre half.
Yes it’s going to be a very interesting summer. One thing for certain we really don’t need a mass clear out as we did last time we got promotion. Stability is key, going up a level. I don’t want to see Rhys Walters going elsewhere any time soon. He’s a young lad and the move up a level would be good for him to develop with players he knows around him. Also a good season in League 1 will only uplift his value, suiting both him and the club. The same applies to Jack Shorrock as well.Nathan is a must for staying. Doesn’t take a genius to look at how we improved once he was back regular. I really hope we can get Ben G in the summer break. He is a breath of fresh air on the field and no doubt also in the changing room. So we should add a keeper and additions in the spine will be needed. Tell you what I would love to see Kian Harratt back as an additi9na striker option.
Unfortunately for Carol I think we need to send money. I’m not confident with Amos..I actually like our defense apart from Hall who I think is weak. Midfield is good as long as Ben keeps fit… Wingers would be nice.. We need a stronger strick force. Strikers need to be scoring 20 in a season to keep the club up or better..
Should Rico Richards sign for us, I wouldn’t hold out much hope for him starting games. Far too attack minded for how we set up.
What are the odds on Nathan Smith being snapped up on a free transfer by Bristol Rovers’s new manager Darrell Clarke ?
Rico Richards makes things happen. Vale need his creativity.
Need reliable keeper move Debra to centre half keep smugger release byers stockley harper all to slow 4 league 1 garrity? Sang hackford ojo jones diamond all free to go &cissy needs to go for his own good perhaps to Bristol rovers utv all above reasons depend on the buget
The squad that Vale are going up with is head and shoulders above the one that they came down with, as it should after the clubs investment last summer. The squad could be improved all over, we have four slow central defenders all of whom may not be good enough to go up a division, saying that Smithy deserves a new contract as he’s a man marker which is different from the other three. Other than Newport away and Bromley at home seldom have Vale seemed in control of a game which is strange when the midfield seems so strong. No doubt Moore will start Byers when fit so which one of the other three (Croasdale, Garrity or Walters) will Moore leave out is a guessing game. John, Clark and Headley have been outstanding going forward however there are a few doubts about Headleys defensive qualities especially in a division higher. Shorrock you feel will struggle. As for the forwards Curtis has been too much hit and miss for me, Paton still won’t get the game time he needs to improve so that leaves just Stockley and Tolaj! Out of the loanees there’s only Richards that you would want to keep. The Chislett situation is just ridiculous, he’s a proven scorer even at league one level yet we seem destined to loose him due more to personality issues rather than ability reasons. I don’t think there will be many if any surprises on who will leave. Coming in, keeper for certain. A central defender WITH PACE, and possibly loose one. (I would like to go back to a back four). Midfield, you would need to spend money to better what we have. Forwards, I wouldn’t mind the lad from Bromley and possibly their centre forward who just can not stop scoring!!! I just hope come next season when almost certainly we will have runs where we aren’t winning, Moore doesn’t revert back to his boring defensive ever tinkering team changing policy.
The who stays and who gores should be as interesting as some of Mr Moores playing patterns, We do need a trustworthy keeper and a couple of wingers, if we can stretch to it a mate for Garrity
New spine is required for sure.
Keeper will cost us
Defence needs a quality addition
Midfield is strong but a pacy dribbler required
Experienced proven striker a must
Overall it’s already a decent squad need to clear out a few to free up wages for new ones.