No direct Langstaff replacement: 2 transfer regrets Notts County should have following summer window | OneFootball

Notts County have had a very strong window on the whole, but The Magpies may have a couple of slight regrets.

At the end of every transfer window, it’s extremely rare that a club doesn’t come away with at least a couple of small regrets about their business.

In Notts County’s case, it has undoubtedly been a very positive window with 13 incomings looking to turn a squad that showed promise at times last year into one that can mount a serious challenge for promotion to League One.

The Magpies overhauled their defence after last season’s dire record at the back, as well as managing to retain the services of key men Jodi Jones and Dan Crowley.

The only major negative was losing prolific goalscorer Macaulay Langstaff to Millwall, although The Magpies did at least receive a significant fee for their star striker.

Naturally though, like every transfer window, there are a couple of very minor regrets which could prove to have held Notts back, should they miss out on promotion.

Lack of a direct replacement for Macaulay Langstaff

After Langstaff’s departure, strikers have been the big talking point at Meadow Lane this summer, with various different links arising and ultimately not materialising in Notts’ search for a replacement.

The most likely replacement was probably already at the club, with Alassana Jatta’s arrival in January potentially a precaution in case Notts were to lose their talisman. The Gambian now forms part of a three-man unit alongside David McGoldrick and Cedwyn Scott.

But with Jatta still adapting to English football, McGoldrick now 36, and Scott returning from a long-term injury and playing at a level where he’s still very inexperienced, many County fans felt one more striker was needed.

The deadline day arrival of Bristol Rovers loanee Jevani Brown helps somewhat, but the former Cambridge United and Exeter City man has undoubtedly performed best over the course of his career when playing either out wide, or in behind the striker.

Newport County’s Will Evans was touted with a potential switch to Meadow Lane for large portions of the summer before he instead joined Nottinghamshire rivals Mansfield Town, whilst Norwich City youngster Ken Aboh was the most recent forward to be linked, but when League One interest arrived in the form of Stevenage, that option was taken off the table as well.

It’s definitely possible that the Magpies could turn out to have enough depth up front as the season plays out, but with each of their three current options having some level of doubt over them, one more addition - and one that is more of a penalty box predator in the mould of Langstaff - would’ve certainly been welcome.

Another slight regret Notts should have from their summer window is the lack of depth in the goalkeeping department.

County manager Stuart Maynard was unable to secure a deal to bring another goalkeeper into the club to cover any potential injuries to Alex Bass.

This may have been partly down to being unable to offload Aidan Stone, who has been transfer-listed since the start of the summer, with even a loan deal arguably leaving the goalkeeping department too bloated with four senior keepers.

While Bass’ injury record last season was very good (he missed just two league games during his season-long loan at AFC Wimbledon), Sam Slocombe shipping three goals in the Carabao Cup defeat at Shrewsbury Town in August has set the alarm bells ringing.

The former Scunthorpe United and Bristol Rovers man struggled at times last year for Notts and at the age of 36, looks like he’s finally coming to the end of his very respectable career.

Notts simply cannot afford to lose Bass, especially for a prolonged period of time in a season where they are hoping to push for promotion and could potentially have their fate decided by just a point or two.

And while a backup goalkeeper is rarely ever needed, it would’ve provided a little bit of extra confidence and security in the squad, should the worst happen, and Bass pick up an injury.

On the whole, however, Notts