GOOD BYE: Another Luton Town star exit makes perfect sense as European links surface

After a solitary season in the Premier League, Luton Town are preparing for a return to the Championship this summer.

The Hatters put up a decent fight in the top-flight, better than their fellow relegated sides, but ultimately they fell short, finishing 18th, finishing six points away from safety.

Despite relegation to the second tier, there is still a feel-good factor around the Hatters, and they’re expected to be competing for promotion again this season, despite seeing some quality players leave the club, no more so than Ross Barkley who enjoyed an excellent maiden season in Bedfordshire.

Players like Barkley and Andros Townsend were brought to the club last summer to try and add some Premier League experience to Rob Edwards’ side, but with the club in the Championship, it remains to be seen if the likes of Townsend will still be needed.

The 33-year-old winger has recently been linked with a move to Turkish Süper Lig side Alanyaspor, and it might prove good business if the Hatters were to let him leave this summer.

A summer Luton Town exit for Andros Townsend makes sense

Townsend was brought in last summer to give the club some Premier League nous, but now the club are in the Championship again, it remains to be seen if there’s much point in keeping him around.

Despite his age, Townsend is still a good player and would likely perform well in the Championship, but given Alanyaspor’s interest, it might be in the best interests for Luton to cash in on him.

The winger joined Luton on a short-term deal in October which was initially meant to end in January, but the club gave him a long-term deal, which suggests that Edwards is fond of him and that he wants to keep him around for the foreseeable future.

However, at 33, Luton won’t get many chances to cash in on Townsend, and it could make sense to get him off their books with the club no longer craving his Premier League nous and experience.

The former England international scored once and registered three assists for the Hatters last season, and whilst he made a decent start to life at Kenilworth Road, he was being used from the bench more often towards the end of the campaign.

Giving a 33-year-old a long-term deal was strange business from Luton, and perhaps it’s one they now regret following relegation from the Premier League.

Alanyaspor’s interest gives Luton the chance to cash in on Townsend, and would also free up his reported £20,000 a week wage, according to Capology.

Selling Andros Townsend would open the door to new signings

Luton don’t need Townsend’s Premier League experience now that they’re in the Championship, and by offloading him they could buy younger players with brighter futures.

Whilst they don’t want a complete overhaul, relegation to the Championship would allow something of a rebuild to take place at Kenilworth Road, and Edwards should be looking to sign some younger players who could become the future of the football club.

It’s fair to say that Townsend is not the future of the football club, so this summer provides them with the perfect opportunity to cut ties with the veteran, particularly when you consider Alanyaspor’s interest.

Luton should be looking to sign young talented players who could become a starter for the next decade or could make the club big money from a potential transfer fee, and replacing Townsend with a youngster seems like logical business.

Townsend was a useful signing and had some good moments, but Edwards should thank him, shake hands and move onto younger targets.