Stockport County should reactivate Salford City path to solve midfield gap: View | OneFootball

Salford City midfielder Elliot Watt has announced he will depart the club when his contract expires this summer, and he could be the perfect remedy to a weakness in Stockport County's team.

The 24-year-old took to social media to explain his decision, confirming that he will begin next season away from the Peninsula Stadium.

That announcement may have been met with interest at Edgeley Park, who are set to embark on a League One campaign next term and could use some reinforcements at the base of midfield.

It looks like a sensible move for all parties, but whether it is pulled off remains to be seen over the course of the summer transfer window.

County lack depth at the base of midfield

Since Ryan Croasdale arrived in SK3 in September 2020 from AFC Fylde, County have scarcely had to think about the defensive-midfield role, with the 29-year-old invariably starting there and seeing out a full 90 minutes.

His fitness and availability left little need for backup, and the lack of other options to carry out these duties has only been brought into focus this season, when Croasdale has faced short but uncharacteristic spells on the sidelines.

The temporary solution came predominately through Nick Powell, a creative midfielder who adapted well to his assignment, but someone who is undoubtedly better served further up the field.

The recruitment team at Edgeley Park will be only too aware of the gaps that this scenario exposed, and the opportunity to address the issue with a quality addition at a cut-price will not have escaped their attention.

Watt could be the perfect addition

The fact that such a key player for Salford reached the end of the season without a new deal in place meant that his recent announcement confirming his departure on social media came as little surprise.

He joined Salford in the summer of 2022 and went on to become a key figure for the Ammies, appearing 91 times and scoring one goal, while providing an impressive 24 assists from his holding midfield role.

The move would work for the Hatters, as they currently only have Croasdale to rely on as a natural number six, and Watt would now be a cheap option as a free agent. He has also managed to impress this season despite turning out for a struggling Salford side, appearing ready for a step-up.

Aged just 24, Watt will also still have plenty of room to grow and improve with the squad, which will provide a good balance of age profiles against Croasdale, who will enter his 30s around the beginning of next season.

This switch would also seemingly make sense for Watt, who would get to move up into the third tier without much upheaval, with Edgeley Park sitting just on the other side of Greater Manchester.

The midfielder would likely settle in fast too, as former teammates Ibou Touray and Odin Bailey have both made the same switch within the past year, providing two familiar faces at his potential new club.

It seems a simple case to make on both sides, but whether an offer is forthcoming and whether that offer stacks up to other proposals Watt is likely to receive is something that will become clearer as the summer rumbles on.

Watt should accompany, not replace, Croasdale

The arrival of Watt would clearly have ramifications for Croasdale, as manager Dave Challinor typically only plays with one holding midfielder.

Challinor's setup could change and become more defensive as the Hatters step into a much tougher league, but even if the structure of the team stays the same, it would seem sensible to have both in the squad.

If the Salford man came in merely to replace Croasdale, then any injury to Watt would leave County in precisely the same situation they have found themselves in at stages during this season, with a more attack-focused midfielder dropping back to provide cover.

A comparison of the stats between the two also shows they are slightly different players, despite operating in similar roles, with Croasdale the more adept defender but Watt providing more quality going forward and progressing the ball.

Having both in the side would allow Challinor to set up more defensively in tougher games, have a real defensive-midfield option off the bench to see out contests and allow for greater squad rotation throughout what promises to be a tough season.

County should act quickly while a cheap, yet quality, option is on the table to address a weak spot that has been exposed in an injury-stricken League Two season, and could prove detrimental in League One.

The deal appears to work for all parties. Rounding off a hat-trick of Salford signings in the past year could be the answer at Edgeley Park.