Ben Sheaf in: Luton Town’s dream XI for next season ft 3 realistic new signings
Luton Town’s relegation stings after a mix of highs and lows in the Premier League.
The departure of top-tier clubs could pave the way for Luton’s return to the top flight.
With potential gaps in the lineup, key signings like Ogbene and Nakamba are crucial for success.
Luton Town’s relegation from the Premier League was a rather damning end to what was at times a hopeful season in the top flight.
Whilst the club had some famous days out, including wins over Everton and Newcastle, when it mattered they couldn’t quite push themselves away from relegation.
Whilst a return to the Championship is no easy feat, the departure of Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester to the Premier League will be of relief to many tier-two clubs.
For Luton, you feel this first season back will therefore provide an opportune moment to attempt a return to the top flight, with the Hatters one of the favourites to do so.
However, they will have to do this without specific players, and Ross Barkley among others’ departures, will create gaping holes across the pitch.
So, at Football League World we have decided to look at what a potential starting eleven looks like for Rob Edwards’ side next season.
We have sided with a 3-4-1-2 formation which has been commonly used by Edwards in his tenure.
Thomas Kaminski
A position which Luton Town do not need to improve upon is their current goalkeeper. Thomas Kaminski may have been behind one of the worst defences in the division, but the Belgian stood up and made some unbelievable saves throughout last season.
One moment stood out in particular with the shot-stopper winning Premier League Save of the Season for his double stop against Crystal Palace.
A Premier League-level goalkeeper, Luton should not concern themselves with finding a new one and should stick with Kaminski as they head back to the Championship.
Chiedozie Ogbene
Another player that Luton should not be concerned with is their right wing-back, Chiedozie Ogbene. Like Kaminski, Ogbene was signed the previous summer and starred for Edwards in a difficult 2023-24.
Exciting fans with his blistering pace, the Irish international scored four goals last season and ranked highly among other full-backs in all statistics.
A return to the Championship should prove fruitful and in his previous campaign in the division, he notched 12 goal contributions in a struggling Rotherham side.
Mees Hilgers
Kenilworth Road Luton Town
A position that may be of interest this summer could be centre-back after Luton conceded 85 goals in 38 games last season.
To combat this problem, an approach for young Dutch defender Mees Hilgers would be a brilliant addition to the Hatters. Hilgers is currently contracted to FC Twente and a move to Luton may be the perfect step in his career.
At just 23, he represents a player who fits the transfer strategy of the Bedfordshire club. Additionally, he exemplifies calmness on the ball and has been likened to the recently promoted Wout Faes by FBREF’s comparison feature.
Teden Mengi
In a common pattern across much of the Luton squad, Mengi’s initiation into Premier League football was a difficult one.
The defender showed enough promise though to warrant his selection next season and Tom Lockyer’s impending retirement leaves him with some big shoes to fill.
Gabriel Osho
Taking the final spot in the back three is Gabriel Osho. Whilst this defensive trio would complete a young outlook, Osho has experienced promotion to the Premier League after winning the play-off final in 2022-23.
Since signing, he has proved his worth and next season could see him become one of the leaders in an inexperienced side.
Alfie Doughty
Alfie Doughty’s emergence last year was quite incredible. Alongside Barkley, the youngster was one of the highlights of that campaign and provided eight assists across the season. This had some fans calling for the 24-year-old to be given a chance by Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024 amid England’s left-back crisis.
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