Who should Wealdstone sign in the summer?

Wealdstone are once again in the National League next season.

As ever, there will be a heavy focus this summer on ensuring that they recruit smartly, with The Stones having already made their first addition of defender Deon Woodman on a free transfer from QPR.

With a high number of departures likely, I take a look at some areas of their squad they may look to strengthen this summer and identify some possible signings that they could make.

Ben Wynter (Barnet)

The first name on this list is one that may raise the odd eyebrow or two given who he is signing from – fierce rivals Barnet – but one player who I’d be going all out to sign if I was in The Stones’ position is Ben Wynter.

The Stones have a largely young squad with lots of players at the very start of their footballing journeys. The future of Jack Cook is undecided at this point and the likes of Tarryn Allarakhia are likely to depart, and as such they need to add an experienced face or two – maybe even more – if they are to stand up against what I am expecting to be a hugely competitive National League once more next term.

Wynter signed for Barnet from then-National League side Torquay United, but he has found regular first-team minutes difficult to come by. And, I feel that is perhaps indicative of The Bees’ strength rather than Wynter’s lack thereof; on his day I’d still back him to be one of the better full-backs in the division.

The former Crystal Palace man brings experience of winning environments – both with his time at Barnet and prior to that down South with Torquay United – and so he gives The Stones a more reliable option to hang their hat on so to speak. He is fundamentally a really intelligent defender, one who rarely makes a mistake, has good decision-making and is a natural leader. In terms of bringing in characters to galvanise and inspire the group, Wynter is most certainly a tick in the box.

He would have to play on the right of a back three – I feel – in this Stones side, albeit has been used as a wing-back in his career. He is comfortable on the ball, keeps everything neat and tidy and is without doubt an upgrade on what The Stones have at the moment. He wants to stay local and so the geography most certainly suits, and he is an ultimate professional; a must sign.

Richard Chin (Charlton Athletic)

The Stones have made use of their strong links to Charlton Athletic in the past, with the signing of Charlie Barker and Aaron Henry, and prior to that Charles Clayden. As such, I think they make use of that connections again to sign an ex-Addick and defender Richard Chin is one that certainly caught the eye upon his release from The Valley.

Chin is a defender that can also be deployed in midfield, and I think he is best used as a full-back or wing-back with license to get forward and contribute in an attacking sense with his progressive passing, composure and technical proficiency on the ball, ball-carrying ability and athleticism to get up and down the pitch.

He has come through a strong academy system and so there is a basic level of assurance over the quality of the coaching that he has had and the technical grounding. Whilst not the biggest, Chin is a physical player with good athletic qualities, is quick and not afraid to get stuck in and so I think there are the raw tools there to work with.

He is by no means the finished article, but he is a player that I think has good potential. He has impressed in the couple of loans that he has had in the National League South, and with the right players alongside him on his side of the pitch like a Ben Wynter, I think that a move to Grosvenor Vale would be the right environment for him.

Chinwike Okoli (Millwall)

According to a Wealdstone source whose opinion I value, The Stones may well need to add two centre-backs to their ranks with a possible departure of Jack Cook and Charlie Barker. The first centre-back – therefore – I am going to pick out is Millwall youngster Chinwike Okoli.

Okoli has spent time in the National League this term with promoted Bromley, but returned to his parent club partway through the season. He showed during his time at Hayes Lane that he is a promising, young defender, with a front-foot, aggressive, imposing playing style that is hall-marked by being a robust defender and one that is a threat in both boxes.

After his loan with Bromley in the fifth tier, he may well be looking for a move in the EFL to properly challenge him, however I think that the fifth tier would give him the chance of more regular minutes.

The Stones have well-established links with The Lions, too, with defender Kyle Smith having spent time on loan with Wealdstone earlier this season, and so they are well-placed to make for the youngster. Okoli is a good defender who needs to continue his development with first-team minutes, and so I think he’d make for a rather useful loan capture.

Cole Kpekawa (Bromley)

One area of the pitch which I feel The Stones can strengthen during the close season is in adding a centre-back. An option that I think would be worthwhile looking at is Bromley centre-back Cole Kpekawa.

Kpekawa is on the books of now-promoted National League club Bromley, but has spent time out on loan this term with Kidderminster Harriers. Given how little game time he has got with The Ravens in the fifth tier, I find it nearly an impossibility that he will be kept on by Andy Woodman this summer and so he will need to look out for a new club.

The benefit – for a club like The Stones, looking for a centre-back – is that I feel Kpekawa will not return to Kidderminster Harriers in the summer, with his game time with Phil Brown’s side extremely limited, and so he will need to find a new opportunity. That could work in The Stones’ favour, as I feel he fits the profile of the type of player that they go for; hungry and with a point to prove.

In terms of what type of player Kpekawa is stylistically, the defender has a big, imposing frame, is strong aerially, is powerful and protects the ball really well. He has played for England at youth level, and at the age of 27 is at the point where – with the sheer number of clubs he has gone through – that he needs to find himself a permanent home. That would be useful for The Stones, reducing their reliance on the loan market and give Kpekawa a permanent, stable setting in which to knuckle down.

In many ways, he is the perfect profile for a defender with his size and physical attributes. He has a good left-foot, and can be used as either a centre-back or a left-back; that is perfect for playing on the left of a back three if The Stones stick with their system. I think he is a good player, and I’d put trust in him to find a level of consistency he needs.

Sam Bowen (Newport County)

The next player on this list is certainly not going to surprise many readers, with this suggestion having spent the season on loan at Grosvenor Vale. Sam Bowen has been released by Newport County earlier this week, and so it wouldn’t surprise me if The Stones go back in for the Welshman on a permanent basis.

Bowen has enjoyed a successful season with The Stones, and he has been a fans favourite during his time in London. Formerly on the books of Cardiff City and with international experience at youth level for his country, Bowen is a player who has played for much of his career at a higher level to that which The Stones play at, albeit if Bowen is to progress his career and find a consistency of minutes then dropping down permanently into the fifth tier is the best thing for him.

The adage of signing a player like Bowen is that he offers The Stones with a versatility to be used either as a sitter or more defensively-minded player, but equally has the attributes to be deployed as an attacking midfielder as a goal-scoring option. As thus, he is a box-to-box option that can be used in various systems, and in what is likely to be a smaller squad then versatility is key.

He is at the age where he just has to be playing regularly and getting minutes under his belt, and so given that he has been a regular for The Stones over the course of the 2023-24 season then it makes sense for him to return. I find it unlikely that he will get an offer in the EFL and will likely have to drop into the National League, and so all roads point towards Grosvenor Vale.

Alfie Lloyd (QPR)

Other than possibly Torquay United, Wealdstone is the place to be if you are an aspiring ex-Hoop; Dillon De Silva is loving life at Grosvenor Vale, and they have already signed a former Ranger in defender Deon Woodman. As such, they may look to take advantage of that avenue again in the summer and so I’d be trying to add attacker Alfie Lloyd.

Lloyd is a player who has perhaps fallen off the radar a little bit given he has spent time out injured this term; however, don’t be fooled by his absence. I’ve seen Lloyd play a number of times in the National League – during his time on loan at Eastleigh – and I was really impressed. At his best, he is an explosive, direct attacking player who is dynamic, powerful and a real handful. His ability to go on the outside or indeed drift inwards more centrally makes him difficult to mark.

The Stones have opted for the use of largely a back-three system with wing-backs, but Lloyd offers the versatility for Wealdstone to play multiple systems. I feel he has the physical attributes to play as part of a central two with his pace in behind the opposition, can play in a wide forward position where he can pick the ball up in the pockets and get on the turn, and with the right defensive structure behind him I could see him being used as a makeshift wing-back in which to isolate full-backs.

I think that Lloyd is best used as a wide forward – perhaps as part of a 3-4-3 – with a wing-back giving him the freedom to be high and wide in the opposition third to isolate the opposition full-back, driving at players and using his frame and physical size to engage contact and carry the ball forward. Lloyd has been well-coached in a top academy, has experience of the league and I think he is a fabulous prospect.

Lee Angol (Sutton United)

The final player on this list is former Sutton United striker Lee Angol. Watching The Stones this term, one thing that is evident to me is that they lack that edge at the top end of the pitch; they are intricate and measured outside of the box, but lacking ruthlessness and clarity in it. They need to find the right option to lead the line for them, and I have gone for Lee Angol.

Angol finished the season with fellow National League outfit Woking – albeit featuring sparingly – and was released by Sutton United at the end of the year following their relegation into the fifth tier. Ideally, The Stones need to add some experience and nous to their forward line that has been around the block and is more of a finished article than some of the options they’ve entrusted to be that “main man” up top; I feel Angol is capable of shouldering responsibility to be that.

The forward is still only 29 years of age, and boasts a wealth of experience in the National League and indeed in the EFL. He has won promotion from the National League before (with Lincoln City) and so in terms of providing The Stones with a tried and tested option for the division that requires little in the way of time to adjust to the challenge of the fifth tier, Angol represents a ready-made candidate.

Given the budget that Wealdstone have at their disposal, they aren’t going to be in a position to go and sign a player who has come off the back of a 20-30 goal season; if they are, they’d likely be a player stepping up to the level and moving out of a part-time, lower-league environment and one that needs time. The Stones have to be smart with the business that they do and need to find a player who has perhaps shown they are capable for the level who is in need of a fresh start, and that is Angol to a tee.