Stockport County should look to recreate blockbuster Bolton Wanderers transfer to fill squad gap: View | OneFootball

The blockbuster transfer in 2021 that saw Antoni Sarcevic switch from League One Bolton Wanderers to Stockport County, then in the National League, should be a source of some inspiration for the Hatters in the upcoming transfer window.

Not only was the midfielder dropping two divisions, but he was also Wanderers' captain at the time, which added to the shock that the switch caused.

He became instrumental in the Hatters' subsequent rise to the third tier and will undoubtedly go down as one of the best bits of business done at Edgeley Park in recent years.

Having let go a number of key leaders in the squad at the end of the 2023/24 season, including Sarcevic himself, County may look back at his move as a source of inspiration for their upcoming transfer business.

Following the takeover of County by owner Mark Stott in January 2020, the club had renewed weight in the market after years of financial worries and tight budgets.

The first true sign of this pulling power came around a year later with the signing of Paddy Madden from Fleetwood Town, also a League One side at the time, where he had already appeared 32 times that season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists.

Sarcevic was the next landmark move later that year, so notable because, like Madden, he was a key member of the squad, served as captain and had dropped two divisions to join the Hatters midway through the season.

The financial power to offer both players extended contracts was key in the decision, but with Stockport they also found an exciting project: restoring the club to its former glory.

The move for Sarcevic caused particular angst among the Trotters' support as he had captained all but one of their opening 14 matches in League One before making the switch to non-league Stockport, a sign that the Hatters meant business.

Sarcevic was a key component of County's rise

Seizing on rumours of a fall-out between Sarcevic and Bolton boss Ian Evatt, the move by County proved to be an inspired manoeuvre.

The 32-year-old went on to make 97 appearances for the Hatters, providing 18 goals and 10 assists during that time.

He was instrumental in the subsequent two promotions at Edgeley Park, using his higher-level experience to drag the team through tougher moments and add an extra layer of quality in midfield that had not been there previously.

The nature of his shock departure from Bolton has left him with a questioned legacy at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, but there are no such doubts at Edgeley Park, where he quickly became a fan favourite. News of his departure at the beginning of the 2024 summer transfer window was greeted with regret from many Hatters fans, but was a cause for celebrating everything he had done for the club in a relatively short time.

It was a shock signing in 2021, but one that was a signal of the developments being made by County under their new ownership.

The Sarcevic deal could be used as inspiration over the summer

A trio of leaders at Edgeley Park in Sarcevic, Madden and Ryan Croasdale all departed the club at the end of their contracts following the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, as part of a new strategy by the decision-makers at County to recruit younger players that may create greater value further down the line.

It's a strategy that makes sense as the Hatters, for the first time in a few years, move into a division where they will no longer be the financial heavyweights of the league and must look at alternative routes to finance improvements in the playing squad.

However, leadership and experience, especially when entering a higher level, are key attributes that will now need replacing at Edgeley Park.

County should look to the deal for Sarcevic for inspiration to fill this gap, looking for any scenario that may provoke a player with extensive experience in the third tier or higher to see Stockport as an ideal landing spot.

The Sarcevic move proves how vital this depth of knowledge can be in rising through the leagues, and they should look to recreate a similar switch this time around. Future potential may create the most value, but you need strong, experienced figures sometimes to guide the younger players through difficult moments, of which there are sure to be many in a higher division at Edgeley Park.

With the Sarcevic deal, County have a blueprint of how to make the most of their resources and position. Now that gaps have opened up in the squad, they should use this to ensure they have the strongest mix of young potential and quality experience heading into the new campaign.