Sam Austin gave the Magpies the lead at Checkatrade.com Stadium, but Scott Robertson’s second bookable infraction midway through the second half turned the tide of the match, with Ade Adeyemo and Klaidi Lolos scoring twice in five minutes to further punish the Magpies.
Notts have lost all of their games at Meadow Lane this year and have fallen in the League Two standings. Although they have had a great start to the season, losing some of their best players is a definite possibility.
Eight members of the current playing team, including John Bostock, Aden Baldwin, and Cedwyn Scott, have contracts that expire in the summer. It is unclear if new agreements will be reached for these players, regardless of the division they play in the next season.
But over at Football League World, we examine the players who, in all likelihood, might depart the East Midlands club in the summer for a transfer fee, and three individuals are included.
Despite only playing for Gateshead in the National League North two seasons prior, the Magpies’ top scorer, Macaulay Langstaff, has had another successful season in the black and white of Notts, topping 20 goals in his debut season as an EFL player.
Many doubted the Stockton-born striker’s ability to play in the National League when he first arrived in the East Midlands, but he more than proved his doubters wrong, scoring 41 goals in the fifth division.
However, his season-long performances have drawn interest from teams further up the English football hierarchy.
The 27-year-old, who scored 18 goals before the year began, was linked to a move away from Meadow Lane during the January transfer window. Teams like Birmingham City, Sunderland, Derby County, and Wrexham were apparently interested in his services.
Even though the striker signed an enhanced contract in the summer that will keep him with the team until 2027, it has been rumoured that a fee of about £1.5 million has been set on him. If promotion is not won this season, you feel that Notts may grudgingly cash in on the player.
Jodi Jones
Jodi Jones, who joined the Magpies on loan last season to help them make a comeback to the Football League, is another of the team’s best performances this year. Jones signed with Oxford United in the summer on a free transfer.
The Malta international has definitely returned the former boss Luke Williams’ faith on the pitch this season. In his first full season at Meadow Lane, the 26-year-old has already recorded 20 assists in League Two this season, shattering a fourth-tier record in the process. He is quickly solidifying himself as a fan favourite.
Similar to Langstaff, though, if he keeps up this level of play through the conclusion of the season, teams higher up in the divisions will undoubtedly take notice of his performances. The loss of Jones and their number nine, who are essential to the side’s operation, is the Magpies’ biggest concern in not getting promoted.
It will be fascinating to see if he is a player that Notts may consider letting go if the appropriate offer comes in, having signed a two-year contract in the summer.
Will Randall
Will Randall, who joined the Magpies from Sutton United after being instrumental in the U’s 2019 promotion from the National League, is one player who hasn’t exactly made a splash in his career.
But the 26-year-old has battled a number of persistent injury problems since moving to Meadow Lane, which has limited his appearance total to nine across all competitions—seven of which have come off the bench.
Randall has played just two minutes in the team’s loss to AFC Wimbledon since Maynard’s arrival, and it doesn’t appear likely that he will be able to push his way into the starting lineup before the season ends.
This could see a potential transfer away from the East Midlands for the midfielder. Having signed on a two-year deal in the summer and showcasing his quality in the division below, he could be a shrewd addition to a newly-promoted National League side for a cheap price, meaning Notts will make some money from the free transfer.
