Hatters boss doesn't rule out delving into the free agent market
Town can still boost squad after transfer window closes
Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield hasn’t ruled out delving into the free agent market if he feels like he needs to bolster his squad following the closure of the transfer window at 7pm on Monday.
Having suffered relegation to League One, the Luton chief was faced with a major reshuffle at Kenilworth Road over the summer, adding 14 new players, including four on deadline day, with Shayden Morris joining from Aberdeen, along with Cheltenham winger Ethon Archer, Gillingham striker Joe Gbode and also Ipswich forward Alli Al-Hamadi. Bloomfield saw 13 first teamers depart Kenilworth Road in that time too, with Mark McGuinness moving away just hours before the window shut, while out of favour Cauley Woodrow and Tom Holmes left on loan as well.
With League One clubs able to name 22 senior players in their squad, not including goalkeepers, then the Hatters currently have 20 on their books, although they are unlikely to register either Elijah Adebayo or Shandon Baptiste, certainly ahead of the winter transfer window opening in January at least, after both suffered long term ACL injuries, which could see the pair both miss the rest of the season.
Town can still bring free agents in if they so desire though and on whether that might be the case, Bloomfield said: “I think it’s really important that we’re open minded. We’re really pleased with the group, there are free agents out there and if the situation arises where we need to sign someone we’ll certainly be aware of that. There is space in the senior squad, but we’re happy with the business we've done and we work forward with this group.”
Town had been linked with a number of players during the final day of the window, particularly in midfield, including Barnsley’s Adam Phillips and Bolton Wanderers’ Aaron Morley. Asked if there were any bids submitted to bolster that area of the pitch, Bloomfield added: “Yes, because there was interest in our players, like Mark. No-one’s ever gone until they're gone and no-one’s ever here until we've done it. So we’ve been very open minded about the window, but come deadline day we were in for the boys and we got them all in, so we’re really pleased with that.”