"Worth a gamble" - Swansea, Sunderland, Birmingham City and Coventry urged to make move for Notts County ace | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer believes Notts County striker Macaulay Langstaff should be on the radar of Championship and League One clubs this summer.

Langstaff joined Notts from Gateshead in the summer of 2022, and he scored 41 goals in 47 games in all competitions to help the Magpies to promotion from the National League in his first year at the club.

There were some question marks over whether Langstaff would be able to make the step up to League Two, but his outstanding form continued in the fourth tier this season as he finished as the top scorer in the EFL.

In addition to Langstaff's 28 league goals, he also scored once in the FA Cup, but despite his prolific form, it was a disappointing second half of the season for Notts as they finished 14th in the table, and after missing out on promotion, they could be vulnerable to losing him this summer.

Langstaff was reportedly the subject of interest from Birmingham, Sunderland, Peterborough United, Derby County, Wrexham, Hearts and Coventry in January, but he remained at Meadow Lane.

The 27-year-old looks set to attract attention from elsewhere once again this summer, and according to Wales Online, he is "a name very much on the radar" of Swansea, who are managed by ex-Magpies boss Luke Williams.

Notts head coach Stuart Maynard appointed Langstaff as the club's new captain last week in what could be seen as an attempt to keep him, and he is under contract until the summer of 2027.

Palmer: Macaulay Langstaff could deliver in the Championship or League One

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said that Langstaff would be an excellent addition for Swansea, Sunderland, Birmingham or Coventry, and he believes he would still reach the 20-goal mark in a higher division.

"A host of clubs are interested in Notts County centre-forward Macaulay Langstaff," Palmer said.

"To name a few, Swansea are supposed to be very, very keen, the likes of Sunderland, Birmingham and Coventry have all been interested in the past.

"I know there's this argument about the fact he's come from non-league and he's 27 years of age, but he's been prolific in the National League North where he scored 28 goals for Gateshead, then he went up to the National League and scored 41 goals for Notts County, which is some record.

"Could he do it again? Yes, he went into League Two and scored 29 goals, so I don't care what anybody is saying, he can step up and score goals. "I'm not saying he can step up and score goals in the Premier League, but I certainly think he can step up to League One if he scored 29 goals in League Two and still get over 20 goals. "Easily for me, I'd still have money on him getting 25 goals. "For me, he's the right age, he's a man, he's played non-league, he knows what he's about, he knows where the back of the net is and he's worth a gamble if you get him at the right money. "I don't think I'd be paying stupid money for him in terms of the £5, £10 or £15 millions, but at 27, if you said to me I could give £2, £3 or £4 million for this player and I've got a chance of getting a return of over 20 goals in the Championship, it's well worth it and good business. "He's an old fashioned centre-forward who gets in there, gets shots on goal and gets chances, so he would be a good signing for any one of those clubs, Swansea, Sunderland, Birmingham, Coventry.

Swansea City could be the perfect move for Macaulay Langstaff

Langstaff certainly deserves the opportunity to test himself at a higher level, and it is difficult to disagree with Palmer that he would still score goals in the Championship or League One given the way he seamlessly adapted to League Two this season.

The links with Swansea were inevitable, and having thrived under Williams previously at Notts, a reunion in South Wales could be the ideal move for the striker this summer.

Sunderland are in desperate need of a goalscorer, and Langstaff could be a good option for the Black Cats, but they are still searching for a permanent replacement for Michael Beale, so it is tough for them to do any business until their managerial situation is resolved.

Coventry have two excellent strikers in Ellis Simms and Haji Wright, so Langstaff may struggle for game time at the CBS Arena, while Birmingham seem to be mainly targeting Championship players as they look to build a squad capable of winning promotion from League One.

As Palmer says, Langstaff would be worth a gamble for a Championship or League One club this summer, and he could prove to be a shrewd addition for an affordable fee.