Notts County urged to prepare for Alassana Jatta exit or become "exposed" | OneFootball

FLW's Magpies fan pundit believes that the club need to bring in at least one more striker this summer

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Failing to secure promotion always sees clubs in higher divisions poach talent, and for Notts County, eyes were immediately placed on David McGoldrick and Alassana Jatta at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, after the duo contributed to 36 League Two goals.

McGoldrick has since departed for Barnsley, but Jatta remains at the club, albeit with plenty of interest still surrounding the 26-year-old.

Currently, the only striker Notts have brought to the club this summer is Matthew Dennis, who scored 10 last season in 28 League Two games for both MK Dons and Carlisle United.

The 23-year-old led the line on opening day against Newport County, as Jatta continues to serve his suspension following the red card he received in their play-off semi-final first-leg defeat to AFC Wimbledon, but didn't exactly enjoy the best debut, failing to score.

Gareth Parr, FLW's Notts County fan pundit, feels that a new striker needs to be signed between now and the end of the summer transfer window, not only to provide quality depth whilst Jatta remains at the club, but to almost prepare for life after The Gambian departs either this summer or next January.

Notts County fan pundit stresses need for a striker addition

Football League World asked Parr what his worst fear for Notts County was during the final month of the summer transfer window.

"The fear is that we don't pick up another striker, as we seem to be short of them," Parr said.

"We've brought in a lot of attacking midfield players, who I guess could possibly double up as strikers, but with Jatta still out, it leaves a big gap up top."

Whilst Dennis would have been brought into the side on opening day to play up front, Martin Paterson ended up setting his side up to be rather fluid going forward. Jodi Jones, Notts' goalscorer, shouldered some of the main attacking output, but Parr feels that he should be used almost exclusively off the wing.

"We desperately need a number nine," he continued. "Jones played up the middle in the last game, which worked a bit, but he isn't that kind of player.

"We need another decent striker who can score 15-20 goals a season in order to push Jatta while he's here.

"Then if he does decide to go and the owners let him leave in either this window or in January, which is more likely, then there's backup there, and it doesn't leave us exposed."

An Alassana Jatta departure now would be a big blow for Notts County

No matter the team, losing someone who, so far, has averaged just under a goal every other game is a big hit, and losing Jatta, who has 27 goals in 53 Notts appearances, now that the season has gotten underway, would be a big hit to the Magpies' promotion hopes.

Jones has started the season healthy, and Notts fans will be praying he can keep his fitness up and return to the level which saw him win the division's Player of the Season in the 2023/24 campaign.

If he can get back to his creative best, then the side shouldn't be as worried as you arguably would be if you lost over half of the team's goal output, as the Maltese international should be able to shoulder that load and create new stars in front of goal.

But saying that, keeping Jatta for even half a season would mean having a top striker for the time being, and if Notts can get someone in between now and the 26-year-old's seemingly inevitable departure, it gives them time to settle in.