Who should Maidenhead United sign in the summer?

Alan Devonshire once again achieved over the odds with Maidenhead United last season, with a strong end to the 2023-24 campaign seeing them secure a comfortable mid-table finish in 14th.

They will need to once again strengthen as smartly and as strongly as they did last summer if they are to be clear of the drop zone any relegation woes.

With that in mind, I take a look at areas in their side which I think they may need to add during the close season.

Right Back – Aaron Williams-Bushell (Oxford City – free)

England C capped defender Zico Asare has been tipped by many in United circles to be leaving the club this summer, having impressed for The Magpies since signing from Oxford City, and so Alan Devonshire will likely have to replace him. One player that I think they could be well-advised looking at in the close season as a possible replacement is another player with Hoops links in current Oxford City right-back Aaron Williams-Bushell.

Stylistically – and in terms of profile – there are a lot of similarities between Zico Asare and Aaron Williams-Bushell. They are both young players who have shone during their time with The Hoops, showing themselves to be an attacking, front-foot, aggressive defender that has a power, physicality and pace off the ball to defend smartly, as well as a confidence and proficiency with the ball at their feet to provide the perfect outlet in attacking transition down the right-hand side.

With Oxford City have been relegated to the National League North and as a still largely part-time outfit, there will be a lot of extra travelling for The Hoops to what they would have normally and so I do expect a couple of the existing Hoops squad to move on with that level of commitment unworkable for them given their part-time status. As such, the ability to stay relatively local and more importantly remain at Step 1 of non-league is an offer that he himself will be open to. He impressed in the fifth tier, and I think he needs to find a way to stay there.

Left Winger – Zane Banton (St Albans City)

Reece Smith will be a wanted man by clubs higher up the pyramid in the off season, and so Devonshire may well have to find a way of replacing a player of Smith’s quality. One player who has always impressed me in the National League South that I think is capable of the step up into the National League is St Albans City wide man Zane Banton.

Banton is a player that I have always maintained is a far better player than perhaps his most direct output – and the efforts collectively of St Albans City – may suggest. Formerly on the books of Luton Town, he is someone who if it wasn’t for some time out through injuries in recent campaigns would – I feel – already be playing at a higher level.

In terms of being a replacement for Smith, Banton is not exactly a direct like-for-like; Smith is more of an elegant and mazy dribbler whereas Banton is one with more out-and-out pace and direct running. Banton is still very much a proficient dribbler of the ball, one that is able to take the ball past players and can both drive in on the inside or go on the outside. He is an all-action, dynamic attacker who has very much been one of the better performers in the sixth tier ever since signing for St Albans City from Luton Town.

I think that Banton – in the right system and with better players around him – would thrive. He is such a vibrant attacking talent and I would like to see The Magpies take a chance on him.

Central Midfielder – Jim Kellermann (Woking – free)

While Alan Devonshire has taken a chance on a couple of players, the United boss does – in the main, and where possible – tend to stick with experienced, been-there-and-done-it types and seasoned campaigners; I look at the likes of Craig Ross this year. One seasoned veteran of the division who I feel is the sort of Alan Devonshire type is Jim Kellermann.

Casey Pettit has excelled as part of their midfield this year, albeit there are one or two rumours – or at least expectations – that he may be wanted by sides higher up the pyramid. As such, finding a new option in the middle of the park in a deeper capacity may be needed. And, while he is by no means as mobile or aggressive in his press as Kellermann, I think Kellermann ticks a lot of boxes of what Devonshire looks for.

First and foremost, Kellermann is a clever player. From many years playing in the division, the former Chesterfield man is the sort of seasoned player that he relies on; positionally strong, an appreciation of when to play and when not to, a good passing range, and a “brain” on him. You know that you are going to get a steady, 7/10 most weeks and he is a top character as well; the intangibles of any side, but even more so with Maidenhead United.

Kellermann is a comfortable passer of the ball, and – I feel – has a really nice balance between being a silky, flowing player and one who is able to get his foot on and be a bit more attritional when it requires. After his release by Woking, I feel that signing for The Magpies would be a good fit. He has a track record of being part of successful sides in the league and competing near the top of it, and that is the type United need to push to the next level.

Attacking Midfielder – Harry Beautyman (Sutton United)

One player that I think will be of interest to a number of sides in the National League following his release by Sutton United – and someone who I feel may be ideal in allowing The Magpies to go to that “next level” – is experienced midfielder Harry Beautyman. Despite being relegated out of League Two last year, I think he is still a good midfielder.

Beautyman’s release from Gander Green Lane was – I feel – more about new boss Steve Morrison wanting to further put his “stamp” on the side and bring in a profile of player that is perhaps younger and more conducive to playing a front-foot, attacking style of football. I think that Beautyman still retains a lot of value with his experience, box-crashing ability, eye for a goal, passing range and his leadership credentials.

For a Magpies midfield, I think that Beautyman would be a perfect fit. He will have been required to play at a fast tempo with fluid movement, rotations and a very transitional side under Morrison – with a recent trend of bringing in a younger player – but in a Devonshire side the role would be ideal for him. There is more of a reliance on being a steady and reliable performer where strong decision-making, positional strength and few errors and less risk is required. On all fronts, Beautyman ticks the box.

Maidenhead United have repeatedly been a side fighting against relegation and looking over their shoulders; I think this summer – in a rather open league – it is time for them to look forward and think about how they can push for the top-half of the table. Beautyman’s experience and leadership would be vital, his previous of getting out of the league useful, and he also gives them a goal-scoring ability from deep which I don’t feel they currently have.

Striker – Ricardo German (Chesham United – free)

Ricardo German recently announced his departure from Chesham United off the back of a strong individual season that saw him register 33 goals in the league last term to help them win the Southern League title and promotion to the National League South. Now, after proving himself at that level, he may well be in search of an opportunity at a higher division and so Maidenhead United would certainly fit that bill.

Alan Devonshire is not often a manager to take a chance on players from a lower league – tending to opt for experienced players that know the league – but I think this is one whereby they could perhaps be a little more flexible in their approach to the market and sign the very much in-form German. The former Chesham United man was formerly of the Football League, albeit he dropped down into the lower leagues to rebuild his career and has most certainly done that; he has scored a total of 44 goals across 73 games for United.

And, one thing that The Magpies would get is one that strikes a balance of having experience, yet still very early in his development; indeed, he is 25 years of age. Up until the end of the 2022 campaign, German had only seen just South of 100 games in professional football and wherever he had been he was very much viewed as a second-choice. However, he has shown what he is capable of with the adage of a first-choice spot and rewarded that in the form of a regular output of goals.

United have some experienced divisionally-familiar striking options at their disposal already, and so there wouldn’t be the immediate expectation and weight of responsibility on the former Crawley Town man to come in and be the main man. He has shown during his time with Chesham United that he has ability – a pacy, direct, robust, athletic forward – and is the type of profile that Alan Devonshire often goes for. If he is leaving a side on the up new to the National League South, stepping up to the fifth tier seems the logical next move.