McJannet features: 4 players Grimsby Town & David Artell are at risk of losing this summer and why | OneFootball

Plenty of Grimsby players shone last season, with four in particular likely to have caught the attention of clubs in higher divisions.

While Grimsby Town missed out on last season's League Two play-offs with a final day defeat in a winner-takes-all clash with now-promoted AFC Wimbledon, the campaign as a whole was a positive one, much improved from the relegation struggles of 2023/24. As part of that progress, many individual players stood out within the collective, and, as such, will undoubtedly have drawn interest from clubs further up the pyramid this summer.

David Artell put together a more technically gifted squad through shrewd, wide-ranging recruitment that's seen him look to Ireland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands over the past 12 months to get value for money, as well as picking up some undervalued gems from the British market.

In doing so, the Mariners' fortunes improved considerably, and the former Crewe Alexandra boss will undoubtedly be hoping to build on that success with another strong summer window ahead of a 2025/26 season that, perhaps, brings with it a degree more expectation than that of recent years.

It's still very early days, and while supporters are eager for news of potential new additions, things have been relatively quiet at Blundell Park up to this point. However, Grimsby have swooped to bring in former Altrincham attacker Justin Amaluzor on a two-year-deal, with the versatile wide player looking to bring some pace, power, and unpredictability to a Mariners forward line perhaps lacking those attributes a little last time out.

As well as looking for improvements, though, boss Artell will be desperate to hold on to some of his key men heading into the final year of their contracts. However, their form, along with their potential to improve further, will likely make this a difficult task.

Here we look at a quartet of Grimsby players in their early-to-mid twenties who could be of interest to others over the next few months.

George McEachran

24-year-old midfielder George McEachran had a superbly consistent campaign at the heart of the Mariners' engine room, with much of what made Grimsby tick coming through the former Chelsea youngster.

Arriving on a free transfer last summer having been released by Swindon Town, the deep-lying playmaker instantly looked at ease, offering a calmness in possession and tenacity in the challenge that saw him bestow his diminutive figure to win aerial and ground duels aplenty.

McEachran, who was part of the England Under-17 squad that won the 2017 World Cup in India, was voted Mariners' Player of the Year, and was paramount to many of the positive elements of Grimsby's style last year, as he made 49 appearances in all competitions. On the rare occasions he was unavailable, he was greatly missed, further marking him out as a vital member of Artell's side.

However, with the potential and time for significant development, and just a year left on his Blundell Park contract, the Mariners could face a tough task holding on to their main man.

Evan Khouri

All-action midfielder Evan Khouri has been with Grimsby for some time now, having come through the youth ranks to make his debut in 2020.

Left-footed Khouri, who can also fill in at full-back, showed promise, but circumstances and injury problems meant he never really cemented his place in the side prior to the 2024/25 campaign.

However, in 2023, previous manager Paul Hurst had seen enough to tie the Londoner down to a deal that will now expire in 12 months' time, with Artell now getting the best out of the box-to-box operator on a regular basis.

Physically strong and athletic, Khouri has become a key presence in the Mariners' engine room, standing out as a reliable and durable figure capable both in and out of possession.

The 22-year-old was an ever-present in the league last season, making 51 appearances in total, and scoring three goals in the process.

The midfield man regularly finds himself in some good positions, and while he'll be looking to add a little more composure in front of goal, the youngster has shown he's a real asset to the side and leader within the group, despite his relatively young age. Artell will hope he can hang on to the former Spennymoor Town loanee this summer.

Cameron McJannet

Defender Cameron McJannet has been a revelation since his move from Irish top-flight outfit Derry City last year.

Left-footed centre-backs are a somewhat rare commodity by comparison to other players and positions, and the former Stoke City youngster's comfort on the ball and willingness to overlap wing-back Denver Hume has been a useful attacking option that has enhanced the better attributes of his teammates on that flank.

The 26-year-old arrived at Blundell Park having played the first half of the season in Ireland, a summer league, and then went on to start the vast majority of games for the Mariners, too. Therefore, it's understandable that he looked a little jaded towards springtime, but his overall contribution was a vital one in achieving manager Artell's preferred playing style and offering balance on the left side of his Mariners unit.

Alongside his ability on the ball, McJannet has shown his combative qualities, too, while his positional sense and reading of the game is, perhaps, worthy of playing at a higher level.

The defender is heading into the final year of his contract, and, given his quality and potential, could well be a target for others.

Jason Dadi Svanthórsson

Icelandic international wide player Svanthórsson also joined the Mariners last summer, leaving native top-flight club Breidablik for an undisclosed fee to ply his trade overseas for the first time in his career.

Having to make the adjustment to a new club, country, culture, and everything that entails, the 25-year-old understandably began the season a little inconsistently.

The potential was there for all to see, however, and having taken on the right-sided wing-back role as Grimsby changed formation midway through the campaign, Svanthórsson flourished and became an important, reliable figure for his side as they hunted for a play-off place.

The Icelander is technically gifted, and comfortable going to the byline or cutting inside on his left foot. One of the Mariners' better dribblers and ball carriers, the winger-turned-wing-back's versatility and sharp improvement will undoubtedly have caught the eye of visiting scouts over the final few months of the season, and Artell will be hoping he can keep hold of him into next season and beyond.