The 22-year-old Benji Magee has Walsall scheduled to play against Northern Irish champions Larne FC, among other clubs.
With Loughgall, the striker enjoyed an incredible season, scoring 16 goals and winning Ulster Footballer Young Player of the Year. After moving from Ards to the club in 2022, he scored five goals in his first season as The Villagers were promoted to the top division.
The Belfast Telegraph claims that while other anonymous clubs from across the Irish Sea are reportedly interested in Magee, Walsall and Larne are the front-runners. The Northern Irish champions are still competing in Europe, and if they defeat the Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar, they will move on to the main competition this year.
In addition, Tiernan Lynch’s group has considered forward alternatives at Irish rivals Glentoran, having placed several bids for former AFC Wimbledon star David Fisher. Josh Gordon, a striker for Burton Albion, has joined Walsall this summer. Gordon will be coming at Bescot.
With victories over Morecambe and Swindon Town, Mat Sadler’s team is now leading the League Two pace. They eliminated Exeter City from the EFL Cup on penalties, and they are unbeaten in all competitions.
The only two available strikers at Walsall right now are Gordon and Jamille Matt; two loan moves for other forwards fell through this window. Albert Adomah, a summer addition who previously played for Queens Park Rangers, has also filled in up front.
Regarding the need for more strikers, Sadler remained vague in his comments to the Express and Star, stating, “I don’t see there being too many scenarios where we haven’t bought people in.” The majority of supporters want the team to be assembled right away.
“I would prefer it to be the squad’s formation at the beginning of July and nothing more.” Even though there are 24 players, not all bases are covered, which is bad.I always take great caution when I speak on this topic because I want to make sure that the guys here are giving me everything they have and that my constant insistence that we need players won’t undermine the unity and camaraderie we’ve built.
“But it’s obvious that we know we need a few more options up top, so that’s what we’ll do.”
It makes sense to bring in Benji Magee, given Mat Sadler has expressed his need for attacking reinforcements. With just two full seasons under his belt, the striker has yet to be put to the test. He wouldn’t give Bescot his first preference. Gordon and Matt, the two major strikers, are both in the peak of their careers, so adding a younger player to balance things out could be a wise move.
Convincing Magee to relocate to England instead of Larne is the main obstacle. Now that they have won two championships in a row in Northern Ireland, the Inver Park club can play in Europe. They are a growing team, and the financial benefits that playing in the Conference League may offer the Saddlers may be too much to bear. If the forward has the talent, Walsall does provide him the opportunity to advance up the English football pyramid, which might be the deciding factor in this transfer.
