Aron Sasu leaves: 2 players AFC Wimbledon should loan out this summer | OneFootball

AFC Wimbledon's academy is renowned for nurturing brilliant talents, from Jack Rudoni to Jack Currie.

And the current crop of youngsters are no different, with many young talents breaking into the first team over the course of 2023/24, such as Morgan Williams and Ethan Sutcliffe, making appearances in League Two for Johnnie Jackson's side.

However, there has to be a focus over this window on deciding who should be departing on loan to not only develop them personally but as an asset for the club.

With that in mind, here are two Dons rising stars that would benefit from a temporary spell elsewhere.

Aron Sasu

Aron Sasu has long been viewed by many close to the Dons as a fantastic talent, with the Croydon-born, Norweigan youth international having been at Wimbledon since 2016.

He signed his first professional deal last summer, having scored 17 goals in all competitions at academy level throughout 2022/23. However, despite many thoughts around the fanbase that the 6ft 4in winger would depart on loan, Jackson kept Sasu around at the club.

He had already featured in some EFL Trophy fixtures since first making his debut in 2021, and that remained the case in 2023/24, as Jackson would primarily use the wideman in his team selections as the Dons made a run to the quarter-finals of the competition. He even scored his first professional goal in the competition when Wimbledon thrashed League One title winners Portsmouth 5-2 in December.

However, his appearances in League Two have often left a lot to be desired, with the winger typically dazzling his marker, but failing to contribute anything in terms of end product. It would be fair to say that he is still a little raw in that respect.

For that reason, the 19-year-old would benefit from departing the club on loan, with an ideal destination being toward the top end of the National League, with the caveat that Jackson and Wimbledon bolster both flanks this summer.

Over the past season, the Dons have suffered multiple injuries in those positions and currently have youngsters Ryan McLean and Paris Lock out injured, meaning backup is light.

Sasu has clearly displayed his talents to the Wimbledon faithful, but a loan spell away from the club, playing consistently, scoring, and assisting goals may just make him a real asset for Jackson in the future.

Kai Jennings

Kai Jennings is a more recent breakthrough, but, like Sasu, is certainly a talent worthy of the first team, and as such, the under-18s captain is currently weighing up a first professional deal at Wimbledon.

He has already experienced first team action with Jackson's men, making his senior debut against Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy in November aged 17.

It is likely that he will sign on with the Dons, as regularly happens with breakthrough youngsters, and his case for being tested further in and around a first-team environment has already been boosted by his successful loan spell with Whitehawk FC during the latter part of 2023/24 too.

His spell with the Hawks saw him appear 11 times, where he scored twice and even claimed a man of the match award against Carshalton Athletic.

The midfield at Wimbledon is already stacked with talent, with current first-teamers Jake Reeves and James Ball both impressing over the course of the season, as well as Morgan Williams, who, while only being limited to five first team appearances before heading to Woking FC on loan, bossed the middle of the park whenever given the opportunity.

For this reason, Jennings should ideally head out on loan to a non-league club again, but with an eye to joining a National League South side, or even a side in the lower reaches of the National League.

If he is given the right amount of playing time for a player of his age while out on loan, then Wimbledon fans can likely expect to see the return of a brilliant box-to-box midfield operator, who can pass and score with ease, rather like a certain Jack Rudoni.

The talent factory for Wimbledon does not look like it is stopping anytime soon, with the club still holding the Academy category three status that was awarded back in 2018 and regularly producing youngsters who go on to star for the first team or shine out on loan.