After just a single season in the Premier League, Luton Town now find themselves back in the Championship for the 2024/25 campaign.
The Hatters won plenty of praise and admirers for their efforts in the top-flight, but could only manage an 18th place finish in the final standings, ensuring an immediate return to the second-tier.
Despite that drop back down, the club have already taken the first step in putting plans in place for the coming campaign, announcing a new long-term contract for manager Rob Edwards earlier this month.
So far though, they are yet to complete any signings, as they look to add to their first-team squad at Kenilworth Road for next season.
Even so, it does appear as though potential targets for Luton Town in the summer transfer window are starting to emerge.
Crystal Palace winger linked with Kenilworth Road move
According to recent reports from journalist Alan Nixon, the Hatters are interested in a deal to sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from Crystal Palace ahead of next season.
The winger enjoyed an excellent campaign on loan in League One with Charlton Athletic during the 2022/23 season.
However, he remained at Selhurst Park for last season, where he found his opportunities limited, not least by injury.
As a result, a loan move for the coming campaign now looks as though it could be on the cards for the 21-year-old.
Given the talent he undoubtedly possesses, it would surely be an encouraging piece of business for Luton, if they were to be the ones to secure his services in the coming weeks.
There may though, be no guarantee that they will do that, with another Championship club, Blackburn Rovers, also named as a potential suitor for Rak-Sakyi.
As a result, it could be argued that if the Hatters do miss out on the signing of the Palace man for next season to Rovers or someone else, they could look to AFC Bournemouth, for an alternative.
Jaidon Anthony could be an option for Luton Town
The fact they are interested in Rak-Sakyi does suggest that Edwards would like to bring another wide option to Kenilworth Road this summer.
So if they do not get the Palace man, they may have to look for another winger, and Bournemouth’s Jaidon Anthony could fit the bill nicely.
Like Rak-Sakyi, Anthony too is capable of operating on either flank, so he is capable of filling a similar role to the Palace man.
Indeed, it is also worth noting that the winger has plenty of pedigree when it comes to the battle for promotion to the Championship.
The 24-year-old featured in all but one Bournemouth’s league games when the Cherries won promotion to the Premier League from the second-tier, back in the 2021/22 season.
That campaign saw him score eight goals and provide six assists in 45 league games for the club, highlighting the contributions he is capable of making in a promotion race.
Last season meanwhile, Anthony was loaned to Leeds United, making 38 appearances in total, helping them to reach the Championship play-off final.
As a result, that experience he has of competing for promotion to the Premier League, would certainly be helpful for Luton, given a return to the top-flight will surely be their aim next season.
| Jaidon Anthony club career record – stats from Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Bournemouth | 93 | 12 | 10 |
| Weymouth | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Leeds United | 38 | 2 | 2 |
| As of 27th June 2024 | |||
Interestingly, that is something that Rak-Sakyi himself does not yet possess, with only a handful of appearances for Palace to his name, other than that stint in League One with Charlton.
Meanwhile, the fact that Bournemouth were willing to let the winger go in the most recent campaign, could suggest that he may be available again this summer.
With everything in mind, it seems that if Luton are unable to do a deal for Rak-Sakyi this summer, the potential availability of Anthony at the same time, is something they should keep a close eye on.
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