DRFC: My 5 Top Targets (Left Wing edition)

It’s the first episode of the transfer target series, in which I will be looking to find and discuss a variety of possible targets each week throughout the duration of the summer window. Addressing the weaker aspects of our squad and how we could possibly improve on them, my priority focus of recruitment will revolve around permanent transfers, working hand in hand with McCann's aim for long term recruitment, primarily free agents, and affordability. Today's primary focus: left wing.

Whilst Hakeeb Adelakun has played such an incredible role in the progress of our rapid rise up the league table, thanks to his incredible goal contribution ratios, the idea that the Lincoln City winger will continue with the club following his loan spell seems quite the pipe dream, especially following our failure to gain promotion to league one. Accumulating 9 goals and 7 assists in just 21 games over the course of two months in red and white uniform, the winger will, undoubtedly, gather extreme interest from across league two, and likely the step above as well, with newly-promoted Mansfield Town having supposedly expressed interest in the 27 year old.

So what better to do, than to explore various other options available to us over the coming summer, should the winger move elsewhere in the coming months/weeks. Here are my top 5 targets for rovers to aim their scope at over the coming months, as we aim to finish high in the table once again, and perhaps take us that step closer to escaping league two.

Kyle McAllister

As part of a soon relegated Forest Green Side, there’s no doubt that Kyle will be looking to retain his EFL status. Despite being part of one of the worst sides in the EFL this season, he really has proven his ability with his accumulation of goal contributions, despite of the lack of quality around him, scoring 6 goals and assisting 7 on the league stage this season, though unfortunately unable to save his side from the drop.

Having spent the majority of his career in the Scottish Premiership, the tricky winger oozes class both on and off the ball, and whether he finds himself in front of the goal or dictating play through the middle, McAllister's contribution to any game is consistently excellent. With a relatively clear injury record, Kyle has tallied a total of 47 games this season, and would hope to contribute similar minutes to those of Molyneux's this season.

A creative playmaker, the winger sits amongst the elite of league two in chances created, boasting the third most of anyone in the league this season with 98. An expected assist ratio of 9.3, with the right finishers around him, McAllister’s assist ratio could skyrocket, especially when paired with poachers like Ironside. Technically gifted with the ball at his feet, McAllister also sits amongst the top with a 60% dribble success rate, completing 62 dribbles so far this season. Similarly to that of Luke Molyneux, it is clear that the tricky winger thoroughly enjoys taking on opposition defenders 1 on 1.

Name: Kyle McAllister

Age: 25

Foot: Right

Height: 5"7

Position: RW/LW (CAM)

Apps: 47

Goal(s): 6

Assist(s): 7

Kyle could really fit that gap in the midfield or on the wing as that creative outlet that we have missed for the last few seasons, dictating play and creating opportunities across the field for our attackers to finish. I feel that creativity has been an underlying weakness of our squad this season. With attacks often wasted with that lack of ruthlessness in the opponent's box, either through misplaced final passes, or firing shots into the stratosphere, the addition of an evidently composed, quick-footed winger like McAllister would be an excellent addition to our line up.

Whilst Kyle still has another year remaining on his contract, I can’t imagine that Bramall would have to offer too much to pry him out of non league, with a nominal fee likely enough to free the Scotsman from his national league shackles.

Charlie Kirk

If there has been one significant criticism of our wingers so far this season - particularly towards Luke Molyneux (though i would disagree), it is that there is a lack of conviction in front of goal, particularly in finishing ability. having scored 23 goals and assisted 28, in just over 100 league two appearances, I’d argue that Kirk comfortably fits this criteria.

If we inevitably fail to keep hold of either Hakeeb Adelakun or Luke Molyneux, the first name that I would argue we should be looking at is Charlie Kirk. Turning heads with his outstanding displays over numerous consecutive seasons, Kirk has managed to accumulate 10+ goals and assists in 6 different seasons, with his highest tally of 24 goal involvements in 44 games in the 2019/20 season, earning him a respectable Team of the Season award in the EA sports game - Fifa 20.

Having played at championship level, proven in league one level (6 goals + 8 assists in 20/21), and evidently elite in league two, Kirk will no doubt be swarmed with offers upon the time of his contract expiration, but I feel McCann’s pull and playstyle will surely appeal to the 26 year old, with his key use of wide players in attacking play.

Northern born, and northern based, I see no problems that may be faced regarding geographical barriers for the winger, as a swift trip down the M1 would suffice...

Name: Charlie Kirk

Age: 25

Foot: right

Height: 6’0

position(s): LW/RW

Apps: 11

Goal(s): 1

Assist(s): 0

Having played very little this season, Kirk will possibly look allow his contract to expire, searching for any possible interest from circling clubs, both in league two and one (perhaps). If we show the ambition, I see no reason why rovers would not be in for a shout.

Joe Grey

One common theme in last season's summer transfer window, and its recruitment processes, was McCann's willingness to delve into the National league market to find key talents and leaders, of which would contribute quickly to the starting eleven. As we have seen with the successes of Owen Bailey, soon to be announced as Rovers supporters' player of the year, known to some as 'Mr. Consistent', starting every single competitive game this season. And not only this, but our supposed relationship with former Hartlepool players, is something that cannot be overlooked, in Jamie Sterry and Luke Molyneux.

Introducing one of Non-League's wonderkids: Joe Grey.

Aged just 21 years young, the tricky winger has already amassed an impressive 116 senior appearances for his academy and boyhood club Hartlepool United. And despite struggling to break into the starting eleven in recent seasons, the youngster has really broken into the Hartlepool first team as a star player, contributing massively as a key performer throughout the last 10 months.

Utilised across the front three this season, on both flanks and through the middle, Grey's excellent finishing ability has resulted in his runner up finish in the club's top goalscoring tallies, netting on 14 occasions. And as expected from a wide player, the youngster is just as talented with his playmaking abilities as that of his goalscoring, setting up 7 goals in the process of his breakout season in senior football.

At just 5"7, weighing in at 74kg, the forward's extreme agility with the ball at his feet has sent defenders to the shops on many occasions, and mixed with his darting runs in behind the last defenders, he really seems to be a lot to handle, and with an ambidextrous shooting boot, he possesses the confidence to shoot on whichever foot he pleases to. As a result of this, the winger can be easily utilised with darting runs inside the pitch, or as a false nine to support Ironside inside the box. Personally, I believe the youngster would be better suited to a central role, but I have included him in this list to emphasise his versatility across the field - something that McCann holds great value towards.

Name: Joe Grey

Age: 21

Foot: Right (and left)

Height: 5"7

Position(s): Left/Right wing (Centre forward)

Apps: 43

Goal(s): 14

Assist(s): 7

Out of context in the Summer, there is no doubt the winger is highly rated in his Hartlepool camp, and will be begged to stay by those at the top, but the prospect of an EFL club like Doncaster making a bid for the young man would be, in my eyes, too good an opportunity to turn down. After all, you never know how long Hartlepool could be stuck in non league from this point onwards.

Jayden Fevrier

Whilst this would probably be our best possible option, the youngster still has a year remaining on his contract, and aged just 21, he likely will require a larger fee than that of any other option so far. As expected, he is highly rated by his Colchester United counterparts, and an extremely important aspect of the Cowley brothers' style of football.

One of the most threatening players we've faced this season, every time Jayden got on the ball upon our visit to Colchester some weeks back, you just felt something was coming from it. Whether it was his blistering pace down the side line, or his driving runs at our full backs, the young attacker was a real handful from minute one of the game.

For me, this is a player that McCann will very clearly be interested in looking further into, as the best way of describing the youngster alludes to similar attributes to that of which Mallik Wilks had for Rovers over his stint at the club, such as his strength to both retain and win back the ball on either half of the pitch, of course having yet to reach such numbers thus far in his short career.

Absolutely outstanding with the ball at his feet, as we saw for ourselves upon visiting Colchester, Fevrier sits amongst the top players of the division in taking on opposition players in duels and dribbling efforts. Compared to Molyneux's 39% dribble success rate, Fevrier boasts an outstanding 55% dribble success rate, completing runs on 115 occasions. And as an incredible creative outlet for the struggling relegation candidates throughout the season, Jayden's 6 assists only tell half the story, with an expected assist ratio of 8.72 indicating the lack of quality around him, especially in finishing his 65 chances created, which sits atop the top 10 names of the league.

Name: Jayden Fevrier

Age: 21

Foot: Left

Height: 5"8

Position(s): Left/Right Wing

Apps: 48

Goal(s): 4

Assist(s): 6

Released by the West Ham United academy, Colchester's excellent turnout of talent in recent years has evidently provided another gem to the EFL scene. Registering 4 goals and 6 assists in his first full season in the EFL, tallying 48 appearances over the course, there is absolutely no doubt that the winger possesses natural quality, and under the development of Grant McCann, with his ability to squeeze the best out of wingers, the 21 year old could certainly become both an asset for future sale, and an absolute weapon for our current goals.

Hakeeb Adelakun

You'd be pretty daft to even consider letting him go elsewhere at this rate, because what an absolute revelation this man has been since his arrival in January. I will hold my hands up for it, upon his announcement on twitter, myself and many others for that matter, were extremely underwhelmed by out transfer business, and the seeming lack of ambition that was showcased, in a time where our league status was, simply, up in the air.

How wrong I was. Our first player to be awarded a player of the month award in over four years, there's no doubt Adelakun has been absolutely excellent under McCann, and playing his best football in a good 6 or 7 years now, you can't rule out the possibility of him staying around.

Yes I did indeed mention the rumours flying around regarding Mansfield Town's growing interest in the 27 year old, but the possibility of the Doncaster-housed winger staying in the area, are far from impossible.

Just as a quick indicator of the ground breaking impact made by the winger: 19 games, 9 goals, 7 assists. Wow. Outperforming his expected goals tally by five, the winger's confidence in front of goal this season has absolutely skyrocketed in comparison to recent years at Lincoln City, Gillingham and so forth, and, unsurprisingly, two of his best seasons in his career, have been under the lord almighty Grant McCann.

Name: Hakeeb Adelakun

Age: 27

Foot: Right

Height: 6'2

Position(s): Left/Right wing

Apps: 19

Goal(s): 9

Assist(s): 7

In various interviews this season, Hakeeb has discussed how much he has enjoyed his time here at Doncaster over the course of the last 3-4 months. For the first time in quite a few years, he admitted, he was able to play with a smile on his face once again, and with the freedom provided to him by McCann in this playing style, I feel that any offer Rovers make at this point should sit in pole position, should we attempt to match the wage offers supplied by rival clubs. He is, after all, officially a free agent, following his release from his former parent club Lincoln City - who will look to rebuild in preparation for their league one playoff ambitions next season.

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Please feel free to leave any constructive criticisms towards my writings, I would thoroughly appreciate this. After all, this writing format is a new one to me, as I look to widen my writing portfolios.

Furthermore, feel free to let me know if you have any other possible transfer targets that you have a keen eye on, they may end up amongst others at a later date.